Preventing Thermal Runaways The warmer days of summer invite us to fly our drones more than ever. However, the drone’s battery can temp out before it runs out of power. Most electric unmanned aircraft make use of rechargeable Lithium-Polymer batteries. When our drones are in flight, the electrons moving through the power pathways run into resistance. That electrical power still pushes through, but resistance creates heat. Heat creates even more resistance in the circuit. There is a point when the power we demand to keep our drones in the air creates a cycle that runs out of control: more resistance creates more heat—more heat creates more resistance--and so on. Ultimately, the internal temperature of the battery builds until it destroys itself--a Thermal Runaway. That’s why you can still have battery power to keep flying but the battery’s too hot to continue flying. You’ve Temped-Out. Land before the battery temperature exceeds its limits. Better yet, give yourself a couple of degrees as a safety factor for delays in removing the battery from the drone. Remove from the aircraft as soon as possible. Shade and air flow will aid in cooling. One last thing for flying safety—sometimes it’s better to be on the ground wishing you were flying than the other way around. Here in Texas, the favored places to fly drones can get very dry. It’s all too easy to create a grass fire that turns into a wildfire. Somedays, it’s better to leave the drone in the box. Fly safe! For more