FPV Drone Glossary: 23 Terms Explained
The words that show up in FPV drone specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Analog vs digital FPV
- The two competing video systems for FPV flying, trading off image clarity, latency, weight, and cost differently.
- Read more about analog vs digital fpvRelated: Best Digital FPV Goggles for Crisp Video (2026)
- Antenna polarization
- The orientation in which an antenna sends or receives radio waves, which affects video and control link quality between drone and pilot.
- Read more about antenna polarization
- Balance charging
- Charging a LiPo pack through its balance lead so each individual cell reaches the same voltage instead of only the pack total.
- Read more about balance chargingRelated: Best LiPo Chargers for Safe, Fast Charging (2026)
- Betaflight
- A widely used open-source flight controller firmware that runs the stabilization, tuning, and configuration on most FPV drones.
- Read more about betaflight
- C rating
- A manufacturer rating that estimates how much continuous current a LiPo pack can discharge relative to its capacity.
- Read more about c rating
- Cell count (S)
- The number of individual battery cells wired in series inside a LiPo pack, written as a number followed by S, such as 4S or 6S.
- Read more about cell count (s)
- ESC
- Electronic speed controller, the component that takes signals from the flight controller and drives each brushless motor accordingly.
- Read more about escRelated: Best ESCs for FPV Drones (2026)
- Flight controller
- The small circuit board with sensors and firmware that reads pilot input and stabilizes an FPV drone in flight.
- Read more about flight controllerRelated: Best Flight Controllers for FPV Drones (2026)
- Flyaway
- An incident where a drone stops responding to control input and flies off on its own, often due to a lost link or GPS error.
- Read more about flyaway
- FPV
- Flying a drone using a live first-person video feed shown in goggles or on a monitor, instead of watching the aircraft from the ground.
- Read more about fpvRelated: Best FPV Goggles for Immersive Flying (2026)
- Frame size
- The physical size class of an FPV drone, usually described by propeller size in inches, which shapes power, weight, and use case.
- Read more about frame size
- GPS rescue
- A flight mode that uses GPS data to automatically fly a drone back toward its takeoff point if the pilot loses control input.
- Read more about gps rescue
- Jello
- A wobbling or wavy distortion in FPV video footage caused by vibration affecting the camera sensor.
- Read more about jello
- KV rating
- A motor rating showing how many RPM the motor spins per volt with no load, which affects speed, power, and propeller choice.
- Read more about kv rating
- LiPo battery
- A lightweight rechargeable battery type used in FPV drones because it can deliver very high current for its size and weight.
- Read more about lipo batteryRelated: Best LiPo Batteries for Drones and FPV (2026)
- LiPo safe bag
- A fire-resistant fabric bag used to contain heat and flame if a LiPo battery fails while charging, storing, or being transported.
- Read more about lipo safe bagRelated: Best LiPo Safe Bags for Fireproof Storage (2026)
- OSD
- On-screen display, the text and graphics overlay showing flight data like battery voltage directly in the pilot's video feed.
- Read more about osd
- Prop wash
- Turbulent, disturbed air left behind by spinning propellers, which can cause a drone to bounce or shake when flying through it.
- Read more about prop wash
- Simulator
- Software that recreates FPV flight physics so pilots can practice stick control with a real controller before flying an actual drone.
- Read more about simulatorRelated: Best Radio Controllers for FPV and RC (2026)
- Storage voltage
- The partial charge level, around 3.8 volts per cell, recommended for LiPo batteries that will sit unused for more than a few days.
- Read more about storage voltageRelated: Best LiPo Chargers for Safe, Fast Charging (2026)
- Sub-250g
- Drones weighing under 250 grams, a weight class that carries lighter registration rules in a number of countries.
- Read more about sub-250g
- Tiny whoop
- A very small, lightweight drone with ducted propellers, built for flying indoors or in tight outdoor spaces.
- Read more about tiny whoopRelated: Best Tiny Whoop Drones for Indoor FPV (2026)
- VTX
- Video transmitter, the component that sends the drone camera's live feed out to the pilot's goggles or monitor.
- Read more about vtxRelated: Best FPV Video Transmitters for Reliable Signal (2026)