Technical Skills and Training Flashcards
7 cards from real UAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Technical Skills and Training flashcards as text
A UAS pilot receives a low battery warning at 20% remaining. What is the correct immediate action?
Answer: Begin returning to the landing zone immediately to safely land before critical battery level
At 20% battery, the pilot should initiate a return and landing immediately to avoid reaching the critical threshold where the drone may auto-land in an unsafe location.
What is the purpose of propeller guards on a small UAS?
Answer: To protect people and property from spinning propellers in the event of a collision
Propeller guards surround the spinning blades, reducing injury risk to bystanders and minimizing property damage if the drone makes unintended contact.
What is the role of a gimbal in a camera-equipped UAS?
Answer: It stabilizes the camera by counteracting the drone's pitch, roll, and yaw movements
A gimbal uses motorized axes to keep the camera level and steady regardless of the drone's orientation, producing smooth, stable footage.
What inspection should be performed on UAS propellers after a hard landing or minor collision?
Answer: Visually and physically inspect each propeller for cracks, chips, or deformation and replace any damaged props
Even minor physical impacts can cause invisible micro-cracks in propellers; a damaged prop can fail catastrophically in flight, so replacement before the next flight is essential.
In UAS operations, what is 'waypoint navigation'?
Answer: Autonomous flight along a pre-programmed series of GPS coordinates and altitudes
Waypoint navigation allows the UAS to autonomously fly a predefined route between GPS coordinates at specified altitudes and speeds, enabling repeatable mission execution without continuous pilot input.
What does 'failsafe' configuration refer to in UAS setup?
Answer: Pre-programmed responses the drone executes automatically when signal loss or critical error is detected
Failsafe settings define automated behaviors—such as hovering, returning home, or landing—that the drone executes when it loses RC signal or encounters a critical fault.
Why is it important to check propeller rotation direction before arming a multirotor UAS?
Answer: Propellers turning the wrong direction will generate downward thrust instead of lift, causing a crash on takeoff
Multirotors rely on specific clockwise/counterclockwise propeller pairs; installing a prop on the wrong motor or in the wrong orientation results in downward thrust and an immediate crash.