Glossary
Speak the language of the industry
The essential terms every drone buyer should know — plain definitions, no jargon.
12 terms
UAV
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
An aircraft operated without an onboard human pilot, controlled remotely or autonomously. UAVs are used across inspection, agriculture, mapping, security and logistics.
VTOL
Vertical Take-Off and Landing
An aircraft that takes off and lands vertically like a multi-rotor but cruises with fixed-wing efficiency, combining long range with no runway requirement.
LiDAR
Light Detection and Ranging
A laser-based sensor that measures distances to create precise 3D maps of terrain, structures and volumes.
RTK
Real-Time Kinematic positioning
A correction technique that achieves centimeter-level GPS/GNSS accuracy using a fixed base station, essential for survey-grade mapping.
BVLOS
Beyond Visual Line of Sight
Operations where the pilot cannot see the aircraft directly, requiring approved equipment, procedures and often special permits from aviation authorities.
GCS
Ground Control Station
The equipment and software from which the drone is piloted and its payload controlled — from portable tablets to vehicle-mounted stations.
Payload
Payload
The equipment carried by the aircraft to perform its mission — cameras, sensors, spray systems, cargo or communication relays.
Multispectral
Multispectral Imaging
Capture across several light bands beyond visible light to measure vegetation health, soil and water — widely used in precision agriculture.
ESC
Electronic Speed Controller
An electronic module that controls motor speed and direction in response to flight-controller commands — a core component of every multi-rotor.
BOM
Bill of Materials
The complete list of parts and assemblies required to build a product — we source entire BOMs for manufacturers and integrators.
GNSS
Global Navigation Satellite System
Satellite constellations — GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo — that provide positioning data used by drone navigation systems.
Remote ID
Remote Identification
A broadcast standard that lets authorities identify a drone in flight — increasingly mandated by regulators including the EU and the US.