By Usage
Consumer Drones
Recreational RPAs for fun and photography. Features:
- GPS-assisted flight modes
- 4K cameras
- Automated return-to-home
Popular models in Australia: DJI Mini 3 Pro, Autel Evo Lite.
Commercial Drones (Also known as Enterprise)
Industrial RPAs equipped with multispectral sensors, LiDAR, high-res cameras.
Use cases:
- Precision agriculture (Aerobotics)
- Infrastructure inspection (Skydio)
- Logistics (Wing)
Models and makes of drones normally consist of (but not limited to) DJI, Matrice (M300, M350, M400, M30 etc) AGRAS (T10, T20, T30, T50, T100, etc) Inspire 1, 2, 3 and many others. Sometimes there is an overlap of RPA that can be used for either recreation and commercial such as the Autel Robtics EVO Pro II, these versatile drones can be sometimes referred to “Pro Consumer Drones”.
Military Drones
ADF platforms for ISR, electronic warfare, and precision strike.
Examples: MQ-9 Reaper, Boeing Loyal Wingman (Project Skyborne).
Racing Drones (Also known as FPV)
FPV RPAs built for agility and speed. Made from individual components and built by enthusiasts and hobbyist. Major brands (some) include iFlight, T-Motor, Team Blacksheep (TBS), Ethix, GEPRC, Lumenier, Fat Shark, Radiomaster, HDZero, Tattu, HQProp, etc.
Community: Drone Racing Australia hosts national events monthly.
It is important to note that flying FPV is illegal unless certain conditions are met, More on this in regulations section
By Design
| Design | Description | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-Rotor | 4–8 rotors, VTOL, stable hover. | Photography, inspection, training. |
| Fixed-Wing | Airplane wings, efficient lift, long endurance. | Mapping, surveys, long-range patrol. |
| Single Rotor | Helicopter-style main and tail rotor, high payload capacity. | Heavy-lift, long-endurance missions. |
| Hybrid | Combines VTOL of multi-rotor with cruise of fixed-wing. | Delivery, remote operations, BVLOS. |
By Weight (Type Categories)
| RPA Class & Weight Range | Registration Required | Licence Required (RePL) |
|---|---|---|
| Micro RPA 0 g – 249 g | Yes | No |
| Very Small RPA 250 g – 2 kg | Yes | No (recreational) Yes (Commercial but can operate under excluded category) |
| Small RPA 2 kg – 25 kg | Yes | Yes |
| Medium RPA 25 kg – 150 kg | Yes | CASA Approval for all operators |
| Large RPA 150kg and above | Yes plus other requirements | CASA Approval for all operators (Airframe, Airworthiness Cert, maintenance program, etc) |