Yes, exactly, although I usually have the port/starboard navigation lights installed on middle or rear of the aircraft and angled forward. My "non standard" rear lighting is amber, which is easily visible in bright sunlight.
There are very practical considerations to UAV lighting which I hope the FAA has kept in mind. Battery life is best achieved with a minimum of lighting and a duty cycle that won't significantly impact flight times - and obviously weight.
As to FAA
Yes, exactly, although I usually have the port/starboard navigation lights installed on middle or rear of the aircraft and angled forward. My "non standard" rear lighting is amber, which is easily visible in bright sunlight.
There are very practical considerations to UAV lighting which I hope the FAA has kept in mind. Battery life is best achieved with the minimum number of lights to achieve safety, and a duty cycle that won't significantly impact flight times - and obviously weight. I have often thought that sUAS should have a different color than white or red as the top beacon, so that manned aircraft could recognize them as such.
There are very practical considerations to UAV lighting which I hope the FAA has kept in mind. Battery life is best achieved with a minimum of lighting and a duty cycle that won't significantly impact flight times - and obviously weight.
As to FAA
Elsewhere in FAA regulation, color of lights is defined. Anti-collision beacons can be red or white. There are also requirements for visibility from various directions. A single beacon on the top or bottom of a solo would not likely meet the visibility requirements as it would not be seen from below it's horizontal plane. One on top and one on bottom, or one on each side would do it. That said, I don't think anyone has ever actually perused this level if detail with the FAA as it applies to UAS. And it probably won't be brought up until someone gets in trouble for something else. But if the FAA were pressed for an answer, they would probably tell you it needs to meet those requirements.
You mean red/green on just the front arms, and white on the back? I agree. That would be the only way to distinguish front/back and direction.
Yes, exactly, although I usually have the port/starboard navigation lights installed on middle or rear of the aircraft and angled forward. My "non standard" rear lighting is amber, which is easily visible in bright sunlight.
There are very practical considerations to UAV lighting which I hope the FAA has kept in mind. Battery life is best achieved with the minimum number of lights to achieve safety, and a duty cycle that won't significantly impact flight times - and obviously weight. I have often thought that sUAS should have a different color than white or red as the top beacon, so that manned aircraft could recognize them as such.