Propeller guards are made of plastic that are specifically designed to clip onto the arm of UAVs(unmanned aerial vehicles). They allow the drone to move freely while creating a physical barrier between the propeller and any obstacles. Ever since people began flying drones, propeller guards have been a necessity. However, much like phone covers, which have grown more popular as phones get more expensive, propeller guards are growing more popular as drones get more expensive. This is because people want to protect expensive electronic equipment.
Table of Contents
Are propeller guards worth having?
A propeller guard can be very helpful for novice drone operators. They can lessen the possibility of physical harm in the event that the drone makes contact with your skin, as well as the risk of propeller damage and subsequent crashes. Prop guards are also beneficial to more seasoned pilots.
Advantages of propeller guards
Cheap price and easy to use
When purchasing a prop guard, the first thing you’ll notice is how incredibly cheap they are. If a prop guard can save $600 per piece of equipment, which is far more affordable than any crash-related repair costs. They are not only inexpensive, but also quite simple to install on your drone. The majority of propeller guards have an easy-to-install clip-on design that makes installation fast and simple.
Provide protection
Propeller guards serve the obvious purpose of protecting the propellers, but you should also be aware that if one breaks during flight, it will likely cause another crash.Therefore propeller guards dramatically lower the likelihood of a crash, by shielding your drone’s most vulnerable component. Prop guards let you to simply bounce off walls, especially if you plan to fly indoors.
Protects one from coming in contact with blades
The propellers of drones are so sharp that they can pierce human flesh. Although the propellers on small drones are soft, small, and lack the inertia to seriously injure an object, they can still cause minor injuries to soft tissues like your eyes. That’s why kids’ drones are always equipped with a propeller guard, which lowers the possibility of injury in case that the drone makes contact with skin. You can look up images of drone propeller injuries on Google and they will probably persuade you to purchase prop guards.
Disadvantages of propeller guards
Propeller guards have numerous advantages, but they also have some
disadvantages. For example, they will add weight, have a lower center of gravity, cause air instability, increase the likelihood of getting trapped in trees, etc.
Sensor blockage
Therefore, we strongly advise you to purchase a prop guard from DJI rather than any other third-party manufacturer. The primary reason is that some third-party propeller guards are said to cover obstacle avoidance sensors and the visual positional system. If you decide to purchase one, make sure it’s a highly rated product because using a third-party propeller guard can also void your warranty.
Weight
If you use a Mavic Mini, you should be aware that you will cross the 250-gram threshold regardless of the propeller guard you choose. This won’t be an issue if you fly indoors, but the regulations will change if you want to fly outside.
Poor center of gravity
After installing a prop guard, you may observe a poor center of gravity. If the prop guard is a third-party product, there may be a slight imbalance in weight between the left and right sides of the guard. What you can do to make the drone safer while using a propeller guard or other accessories is to activate payload mode in the DJI Go 4. This will place some software restrictions.
Battery life
Propeller guards have many advantages, but sadly, they do reduce flying time. Your drone’s overall battery life and flight time are probably going to decrease when propeller guards are added to it. Additionally, propeller guards increase drag. It may affect the rate of ascent and speed of flight.
