How can you avoid drone testing and evaluation risks?

1 Plan ahead

Before you start testing and evaluating your drone, you need to have a clear and realistic plan that covers the objectives, scope, methods, criteria, and resources of the process. A good plan should also identify and assess the potential risks and how to mitigate them. For example, you should consider the legal and ethical implications of your testing location, the data collection and storage protocols, the backup and contingency plans, and the communication and coordination among the team members.

2 Choose the right tools

The tools you use for testing and evaluating your drone can make a big difference in the quality and efficiency of the process. You should choose the tools that are compatible with your drone's hardware and software, that can provide accurate and reliable data and feedback, and that can facilitate the analysis and reporting of the results. Some examples of tools are flight simulators, test automation software, data loggers, sensors, cameras, and telemetry systems.

3 Follow the standards

One of the main challenges of drone testing and evaluation is the lack of universal standards and regulations for UAS. However, there are some existing standards and guidelines that you can follow to ensure the quality and safety of your drone and its operations. For example, you can refer to the ISO 21384 series for UAS general requirements and terminology, the ASTM F38 standards for UAS design, manufacture, and operation, and the FAA Part 107 rules for UAS remote pilots.

4 Test in different scenarios

To ensure that your drone can perform well in various situations and conditions, you should test it in different scenarios that simulate the real-world applications and challenges of your drone. For example, you can test your drone's endurance, stability, navigation, payload, communication, and security in different weather, terrain, traffic, and interference scenarios. You should also test your drone's response to failures, emergencies, and contingencies.

5 Evaluate the results

After you complete the testing process, you should evaluate the results and compare them with your objectives and criteria. You should analyze the data and feedback from the testing tools and identify the strengths and weaknesses of your drone and its performance. You should also document the results and report them to the relevant stakeholders, such as the clients, sponsors, regulators, or users. You should also use the results to improve your drone's design, functionality, or operation.

6 Learn from others

One of the best ways to avoid drone testing and evaluation risks is to learn from the experiences and insights of other drone developers, testers, evaluators, and users. You can join online communities, forums, blogs, podcasts, or webinars that focus on drone testing and evaluation and share your questions, challenges, solutions, or feedback. You can also attend workshops, courses, events, or conferences that offer training, guidance, or networking opportunities for drone testing and evaluation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?