UAS Technical Skills and Training 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended action if a UAS remote controller displays a 'signal lost' warning during flight?
- Immediately cut power to the motors
- Allow the drone to execute its programmed Return-to-Home (RTH) failsafe (Correct answer)
- Manually land by memorizing the last known position
- Increase controller transmission power beyond rated limits
Correct answer: Allow the drone to execute its programmed Return-to-Home (RTH) failsafe
Most UAS are programmed with a Return-to-Home failsafe that automatically activates when the RC link is lost, safely returning the drone to the launch point.
Question 2: Which component of a UAS flight controller is responsible for detecting rotational movement and providing attitude stabilization?
- Magnetometer
- Barometer
- Gyroscope (IMU) (Correct answer)
- GPS receiver
Correct answer: Gyroscope (IMU)
The gyroscope within the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) detects angular velocity and feeds data to the flight controller for real-time attitude correction.
Question 3: A pilot notices propeller vibration during a hover test. What is the most likely cause?
- Excessive battery voltage
- Propeller imbalance or damage (Correct answer)
- GPS signal interference
- Incorrect compass calibration
Correct answer: Propeller imbalance or damage
Propeller imbalance or physical damage creates asymmetric aerodynamic forces that manifest as vibration, which can damage motors and reduce control authority.
Question 4: What does 'Return-to-Home altitude' refer to in UAS flight planning?
- The maximum altitude the drone is allowed to fly
- The altitude the drone climbs to before flying back to the home point (Correct answer)
- The altitude at which the home point is recorded
- The minimum safe operating altitude for urban areas
Correct answer: The altitude the drone climbs to before flying back to the home point
RTH altitude is a pre-set height the drone climbs to before navigating home, ensuring it clears obstacles in the flight path.
Question 5: In UAS telemetry, what does RSSI stand for?
- Remote Sensor Signal Interface
- Received Signal Strength Indicator (Correct answer)
- Radio Synchronization Status Index
- Real-time Sensor Systems Integration
Correct answer: Received Signal Strength Indicator
RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator) measures the power level of the received radio signal, helping the pilot assess link quality and communication range.
Question 6: What is the function of a UAS geofencing system?
- Encrypts telemetry data between the controller and drone
- Creates virtual boundaries that prevent the aircraft from entering restricted areas (Correct answer)
- Monitors battery cell health in real time
- Tracks GPS satellite constellation visibility
Correct answer: Creates virtual boundaries that prevent the aircraft from entering restricted areas
Geofencing uses GPS coordinates to define virtual boundaries, automatically preventing the drone from flying into restricted or hazardous zones.
Question 7: When performing a hover test after maintenance, why should the pilot keep the drone low and near their position?
- To take better video footage for quality assurance
- To quickly land or cut power if an anomaly is detected before risking a full mission (Correct answer)
- To conserve battery power during testing
- FAA regulations require all hover tests below 10 feet AGL
Correct answer: To quickly land or cut power if an anomaly is detected before risking a full mission
A low, close hover test allows the pilot to observe the drone directly and react immediately to any anomalies such as vibration, drift, or noise before committing to a full flight.
UAS Technical Skills and Training 3
What is the recommended action if a UAS remote controller displays a 'signal lost' warning during flight?