Drone Glossary
Common terms and abbreviations used in the drone/FPV community.
General terms
- UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle): A drone.
- FPV (First Person View): Flying through a first-person camera feed via goggles or a screen.
- VLOS (Visual Line of Sight): Keeping direct visual contact with the drone while flying.
- Freestyle: A flying style focused on technical tricks rather than a fixed race track.
- LOS (Line of Sight): An unobstructed signal path.
Parts & hardware
- FC (Flight Controller): The drone's central flight computer.
- ESC (Electronic Speed Controller): Regulates motor speed.
- VTX / VRX: Video transmitter / video receiver.
- KV: Motor RPM per volt — higher KV means faster spin but less torque at the same voltage.
- LiPo (Lithium Polymer): The most common battery type for drones due to its high energy-to-weight ratio.
- Betaflight: The most widely used flight controller firmware for FPV drones.
Control & signal
- PID (Proportional-Integral-Derivative): The control algorithm that keeps a drone stable in flight; needs tuning per frame/motor combo.
- ExpressLRS / Crossfire: Popular long-range, low-latency radio control protocols.
- Rate: How fast the drone rotates on each axis at full stick deflection.
- Throttle: The stick controlling overall motor thrust.
Flying & racing
- Gate: An obstacle/frame to fly through on an FPV race track.
- Rip: Slang for a smooth, high-speed pass.
- Prop wash: Turbulent air created by the drone's own propellers, causing shake during free-fall or sharp turns.