Hello everyone,
I would like to ask for your advice.

I'm thinking about changing my career and one of the options I'm considering is going back to university and studying electrical engineering/aviation and making my FPV hobby my career, namely developing it and flying drones. Also, I the last years there was a big boom in the drone industry, so there is a lot of potential.

This is a very big decision for me, so the decision needs to be carefully considered.

I have built various models such as mini-whoops, long-range drones and various 5' drones.
While building, I discovered that it is an advantage to be familiar with 3D printing and CAD modeling so that you can create suitable components yourself.
In addition, good knowledge of physics, electronics and software development are very important.

In my opinion, studying would give me structured knowledge in these areas and enable me to make contacts and professional opportunities.

I would like to ask you if anyone has taken this hobby to the next level and started studying in this field, e.g. electronics/aviation, and got a job in this field, or even started their own business?

Was it a difficult decision?

Have you completely changed your industry?

I was also thinking about preparing for university by building and trying out “simple” autonomous drones from the company Drone Dojo. This company offers DIY kits for “simple” and structured video lessons. I considered subscribing for $50 per month and purchasing a kit for the transport drone.

However, I have to say that at first glance the whole business looks very improvised.

Do any of you have experience with “drone dojo”?

Are there good alternatives?

Does anyone used „drone dojo“ for their university studies?

I would like to hear your advices and experience ?

Kind Regards

I would hesitate to look at something like FPV as a 'career' option as a young person. It is a really niche hobby, which means that employment is limited in both quantity and location. I think diversification of your skills is really important, the ability to jump ship if you need and to land on your feet.
I would also hesitate to make hobbies that you love into careers. Doing anything for 8+ hours a day 5 days a week can suck the joy out of it real quick. I kind of think most people benefit from efficiently making money with their job and then spending that money on their hobbies.

I do think electrical engineering can provide you with that ability to land on your feet and have easy employment in a number of industries in many locations, so I wouldn't hesitate to jump into that education path if you find electrical stuff interesting in its own right.

One thing that I think is a newer consideration now is 'will this path allow me the opportunity to work from home at some point?'. I wouldn't want to be a doctor or carpenter who has to be on the work site all the time. I get great value from doing my job on the computer at home and then flying drones and fucking about on my breaks.
Whatever you choose, you will find your way in it. It's an important choice, but not something to stress about. Good luck!

I haven't but I'm too old to be going back to Uni. Sure I'd love to, if I was 20 years younger, do a degree in electronics and applied physics, join DARPA and make UAV for a living, that would be sweet, but not at my current age. I have too many years on the clock. Maybe some of the younger members would choose to do it.

there is no room for career in the fpv industry, sry.
our hobby does mostly live with freework from enthusiasts, not by money.

there is alot potential for electrical engineering elsewhere :-)

(12-Dec-2023, 12:04 AM)FPVme Wrote: I would hesitate to look at something like FPV as a 'career' option as a young person.  It is a really niche hobby, which means that employment is limited in both quantity and location.  I think diversification of your skills is really important, the ability to jump ship if you need and to land on your feet.  
I would also hesitate to make hobbies that you love into careers.  Doing anything for 8+ hours a day 5 days a week can suck the joy out of it real quick.  I kind of think most people benefit from efficiently making money with their job and then spending that money on their hobbies.

I do think electrical engineering can provide you with that ability to land on your feet and have easy employment in a number of industries in many locations, so I wouldn't hesitate to jump into that education path if you find electrical stuff interesting in its own right.  

One thing that I think is a newer consideration now is 'will this path allow me the opportunity to work from home at some point?'.  I wouldn't want to be a doctor or carpenter who has to be on the work site all the time.  I get great value from doing my job on the computer at home and then flying drones and fucking about on my breaks.
Whatever you choose, you will find your way in it.  It's an important choice, but not something to stress about.  Good luck!

Thank you, for your advice.

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(12-Dec-2023, 03:29 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: there is no room for career in the fpv industry, sry.
our hobby does mostly live with freework from enthusiasts, not by money.

there is alot potential for electrical engineering elsewhere :-)

thank you for your advice

(12-Dec-2023, 12:41 AM)Pathfinder075 Wrote: I haven't but I'm too old to be going back to Uni.  Sure I'd love to, if I was 20 years younger, do a degree in electronics and applied physics, join DARPA and make UAV for a living, that would be sweet, but not at my current age.  I have too many years on the clock.  Maybe some of the younger members would choose to do it.

thank you for your advice

(12-Dec-2023, 03:29 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: there is no room for career in the fpv industry, sry.

Depends what part of the FPV industry. If you are doing drone displays, I think it's still a possibility. But designing FPV, then you need to be looking at Defence Contractor and Aerospace sort of industries. If it has a defence application, then generally someone will throw money at it.

(12-Dec-2023, 03:29 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: there is alot potential for electrical engineering elsewhere :-)

This is very true. Utilities, rail companies and beyond. You can be fairly well off if you create a company and pick up a couple of lucrative contracts. My cousin did that and picked up a couple of rail contracts and now owns a bunch of bars and several houses.

(12-Dec-2023, 03:29 AM)hugnosed_bat Wrote: there is no room for career in the fpv industry, sry.
our hobby does mostly live with freework from enthusiasts, not by money.

there is alot potential for electrical engineering elsewhere :-)

For a place like South Africa, it would be a an excellent career. Here we have zero support of any sort yet the country is dying for drone technology. Here you don't even find PAID support. Schools and learning institutions will be your biggest supporter.

Hi FPVBeginner,

I would consider Electrical Engineering first. If it would work out to go for a double major, 
then Aviation would be a good second and only second. Electrical Engineering first and 
primary. You will basically learn pretty much everything that you need to know from the
EE degree. Plus, it is versatile and can be leveraged in many industries.  

A degree in Aviation doesn't seem to fit with the quadcopters that we fly. Why? Because
they simply are not aerodynamic. They just are not. The four props such air in from above
the quad and push it out the bottom which negates the lions share of what would be 
considered aerodynamics.  

If you want to go with the drone industry, then you are looking at one of two options:
1) Work for a drone company, or  2) Start your own business. Consider where the drone
companies are located. Are you open to relocation? Yes, you could start your own business,
but I will tell you from experience that you will likely not make enough money to live off of 
for the first couple of years (at least). I guess you could work on designing an FC board, but 
isn't that a lot like re-creating the wheel? Plus, you might need to move to Shenzhen, China. 

So, what are you left with? Frames? Just assembling from stock parts; buy them, assemble 
them, and sell them. I am not sure if there is much demand for that. Do some market research 
before embarking on that journey. 

I also agree that if you did a 40 hour per week job building drones, that it would likely take
some (or maybe a lot) of the fun out of it.  

Now, you want to work as a content provider, well, that might be an option.

Later, iFly