Estimate the Safest Flight Path

Select Drone

Warning: Estimate based on 2.4 GHz frequency - some drones may be able to operate with 5.8 GHz

Warning: Estimate based on visual acuity - actual range will depend on other factors including weather conditions and background clutter

The standard definition of normal visual acuity (20/20 vision) is the ability to resolve a spatial pattern separated by a visual angle of 1 arc minute (1/60 of a degree). Visual angle is calculated as the angle between the max points of the drone at a given distance and altitude. This app calculates the size of the viewing plane of a drone (given the drone's horizontal and vertical dimensions) to find the distance and altitude that corresponds to 1 arc minute (maximum distance of human acuity), 3 arc minutes (recommended maximum distance) and 6 arc minutes (generally safe distance)

Visual Line of Sight

In point to point wireless communications, it is important for the visual line of sight between two wireless systems to be free from any obstruction (terrain, vegetation, buildings, wind farms and a host of other obstructions). As any interference or obstruction in the VLOS can result in a loss of signal. While installing a wireless communication system, it is important to keep an elliptical region between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna free from any obstruction for the proper functioning of the system. This 3D elliptical region between the transmit antenna and the receive antenna is called the Fresnel Zone. The size of the ellipse is determined by the frequency of operation and the distance between the two sites.

Fresnel Zone