Welcome to the third post of our Humans of DreamProIT blog series!
Today we’re delving into the passion of Oleksandr Boiko, our brilliant Director of Engineering. Beyond the world of coding and databases, Oleksandr has a pretty cool hobby – building Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and hydrocopters. In simple words, UAVs, also known as drones, are aircraft that can fly without a human pilot on board, meaning they can operate autonomously or be controlled remotely.
Every passion has its beginning, and Oleksandr’s case is no different. Our conversation begins with a simple question: “How did it start?”
“Back in the day, it was my old friend who introduced me to the world of UAVs. He had this incredible passion for radio-controlled aircraft, so he was the one to show me how it flies, and how cool it is to see the world from a bird’s-eye view. I was absolutely mesmerized.”
The thought of seeing exactly what was happening during the flight attracted Oleksandr and he decided to learn more about drones.
“The sky and the flight have always intrigued me. So, after being introduced to the world of UAVs, I became dedicated to learning everything about how they work.”
His interest grew as he investigated the topic, eventually turning Oleksandr’s research into an educational journey. As he gained some knowledge, he decided to take the next step and build his very first aircraft.
“I ordered my first aircraft model along with various components and a new soldering iron. The process captivated me. Initially, I built the body of the model, followed by a series of calculations. After that, the most time-consuming task was the calibration of mechanical parts and the correct configuration of the flight controller (autopilot).”
Building UAVs can be quite challenging and requires a lot of concentration and patience, and Oleksandr has had his fair share of setbacks along the way.
“It took me a while to learn how to configure everything properly. At times, my drones would even fly upside down. While I was learning how to handle an aircraft, I crashed way too many drones. The saddest part is that they are expensive and can burn in seconds when crashed. I still keep a spare fire extinguisher in my car’s trunk, just in case.”
For those who want to try this hobby, Oleksandr recommends starting with smaller models and simply giving it a go. However, he highlights that building the aircraft is the easiest part.
“The best advice I can offer is to become part of the community. These communities are easy to find, and there are many local groups where you can find partners for your hobby, learn from others, share your experiences, and even trade drone components. And of course, always prioritize safety! Most accessible UAVs are not toys, so you need to consider the people and environment around you. Additionally, now there are legal regulations, so make sure to comply with them.”
Also, If you’re a developer, Oleksandr suggests getting involved in open-source projects, contributing to drone software, and adding new features. This way, you can actively contribute to the advancement of this field.
As Oleksandr delved deeper he faced more and more challenging projects along the way.
“The one project I remember being most excited about was SkyHunter FPV. Even though it was relatively easy to assemble, fine-tuning the controls and video was quite a challenge for me. This aircraft has a weight of approximately 3.5 kilograms, and the challenge of making it fly for a distance of 40 kilometers without losing signal has added to my interest.”
Each model is distinct and requires constant adjustments and calibrations of the piloting skills. Oleksandr has even used a smaller version of SkyHunter to learn to pilot this particular aircraft before he finally felt prepared to make a real long-range flight.
Oleksandr’s eyes light up as he talks about the process of controlling the flight.
“I enjoy building and configuring aircraft but there is nothing comparable to the feelings I get from controlling drones.”
Oleksandr always drove out of town to conduct his drone tests even when there were no harsh restrictions in the past. This was, of course, for safety reasons but also, going to the countryside away from all the hustle and bustle, and finding an empty field to spend time in added another layer of pleasure for him.
Oleksandr’s UAV hobby is time-consuming, considering all the time each stage requires and all the space needed to store drones and parts.
“In the beginning, this hobby occupied a significant part of my life and began to impact my daily routines and lifestyle. I often stayed up late and filled my house with equipment and wires. My wife, obviously, was not happy about it. My daughter, on the other hand, became invested and even asked me several times to gift her a kid-friendly drone.”
With time, Oleksandr cooled off a little and balanced his daily life and hobbies in a way that’s healthy and enjoyable, and, eventually, temporarily set aside his passion.
“I was enjoying watching my daughter grow and wanted to make more time for her. Simultaneously my career was really taking off, so this passion of mine gradually lost its priority. I completely stopped dedicating time to this hobby about a year before the full-scale war broke out.”
Still, Oleksandr’s hobby has proven to be valuable during these challenging times: he consulted volunteers and the military regarding UAVs. The aim was to figure out how to use drones more effectively and, most importantly, safely in wartime conditions.
When it comes to UAV technology, this field is advancing rapidly. Modern drones are much more advanced, even controllers and batteries become much more powerful. In general, drones become “smarter” and have much more advanced algorithms than before. Oleksandr is sure that UAV has a promising future. He will also continue to follow his passion for the sky.
“As for my future plans in this hobby, I’m considering taking a slightly different route by pursuing a Private Pilot License (PPL) and experiencing flight from a first-person perspective.”
Oleksandr’s story serves as a powerful reminder that our passions and hobbies, even in challenging times, have the potential to bring value, hope, and inspiration to our lives. It teaches us that determination and pursuing our interests can lead to unexpected opportunities and new routes.