# FAQ: Is It Easy To Fly? Learn how easy it is to fly the Lucid Bots Cleaning Drone with no prior experience required. Discover the features and training provided for success. January 18, 2023 Is the Lucid Bots cleaning drone easy to fly? [The short answer is yes!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRJawV3nap4) In fact, no prior drone experience is needed. Many of our customers had no prior drone flying experience and [they are now flying successfully](https://www.luciddronetech.com/blogs/post/ryan-godwin) to complete larger jobs! If you know how to use a video game controller, then you should be able to fly a [Lucid Bots Cleaning Drone](https://lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone) successfully. The RC controller has knobs that control flight directions such as forward and backward motion, side to side motion (left or right), height (up or down), rotation (to make the drone turn a different direction), and throttle (speed). The drone is also equipped with avoid distance quick-select switch, which allows you to choose between multiple distance options while keeping the drone a safe distance from the building, and urban flight capabilities, which allow you to fly safely in urban environments. The drone also has a forward facing radar which can detect objects in front of it and reduce the risk of crashing, as well as fail-safe battery systems. If your battery dies mid-flight, it will automatically land in a safe location! Sounds easy enough, right? With proper training, you should be able to fly a drone in no time. Lucid Bots partnered with [DroneU](https://www.thedroneu.com/) to provide an easy-to-use, ongoing training through an online training portal. This online training educates you on how to operate the soft washing drone and window washing drone competently and confidently, such as: - Battery charging - Flight skills - Transportation guidelines - Safety protocols - And more Additionally, the ability to receive your Part 107 License is included in our training! We also offer in-person flight demos at our Charlotte, NC facility where you can see first hand just how easy it can be. [Contact us today](https://lucidbots.com/contact) to schedule yours! ## High-Rise Drone Washing: Definition High-rise drone washing is the process of cleaning the exterior surfaces of tall buildings using commercial drones instead of traditional methods like swing stages, bosun chairs, or scaffolding systems. The drone carries a spray system to the working height while the operator stays safely on the ground. This approach eliminates the most dangerous and expensive parts of high-rise exterior maintenance: putting people at elevation. ## Why High-Rise Cleaning Is Traditionally Difficult Cleaning buildings above three or four stories has always been one of the hardest jobs in the exterior cleaning industry. The challenges stack up quickly: - **Access equipment costs**: Swing stages, scaffolding, and spider lifts can cost $1,000-$5,000+ per day to rent and set up. - **Permitting and logistics**: Many municipalities require special permits, sidewalk closures, and traffic management plans for high-rise access equipment. - **Safety liability**: Falls from height remain one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities. Workers' comp premiums for at-height work are significantly higher than ground-level operations. - **Labor availability**: Finding workers willing and certified to work at height is increasingly difficult. ## How Drone Washing Solves the Problem A high-rise drone wash operation typically requires two people: one certified drone pilot and one ground support crew member. The drone flies to the working height, applies cleaning solution through its onboard spray system, and the operator monitors results through a live camera feed. The [Sherpa Drone](https://lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone) is designed specifically for this work. Its obstacle avoidance system maintains safe distance from building surfaces while its waterproof construction handles continuous exposure to cleaning chemicals and rinse water. ## The Economics For cleaning operators, the value proposition is clear. A job that previously required a five-person crew, a boom lift, and two full days can often be completed by a two-person drone crew in a single day. With [financing starting around $2,500/mo](https://lucidbots.com/finance), the Sherpa Drone pays for itself when it replaces even one or two lift rentals per month. The rest is margin improvement. Ready to add high-rise capability to your business? [Schedule a demo](https://lucidbots.com/contact) to see the Sherpa Drone in action on a tall structure. ## What Is Drone Soft Washing? Drone soft washing combines low-pressure cleaning with aerial delivery to safely remove mold, algae, and grime from buildings. ## Drone Soft Washing: Definition Drone soft washing is a cleaning method that uses an unmanned aerial vehicle to apply low-pressure cleaning solutions to building exteriors, roofs, and other elevated surfaces. It combines the chemical effectiveness of traditional soft washing with the reach and safety advantages of drone delivery. Where traditional soft washing still requires workers on lifts or ladders to apply chemicals above ground level, drone soft washing eliminates height work entirely. The operator controls the application from the ground while the drone handles positioning and spraying. ## What It Handles Drone soft washing is particularly effective for: - Mold and mildew removal on siding and stucco - Algae and moss treatment on roofs - Organic stain removal on concrete and masonry - General grime and pollution buildup on commercial facades - Bird droppings and environmental debris on solar panels ## Why Operators Are Switching The shift from manual soft washing to drone-based delivery is driven by economics. A drone soft wash crew typically consists of two people: one pilot and one ground support. Compare that to a traditional crew of three to five workers plus a boom lift rental at $500-$1,000 per day. The [Sherpa Drone](https://lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone) is built specifically for soft washing applications. With [financing from $2,500/mo](https://lucidbots.com/finance), operators can add drone soft washing to their service menu without a large upfront capital outlay. Already running a soft wash business? [Schedule a demo](https://lucidbots.com/contact) to see how the Sherpa Drone handles your typical job scope. ## What Is a Commercial Cleaning Drone? A commercial cleaning drone is a UAV built to wash building exteriors, windows, and solar panels from the air. ## Commercial Cleaning Drone: Definition A commercial cleaning drone is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) purpose-built for washing, rinsing, and maintaining the exterior surfaces of buildings and structures. Unlike consumer camera drones, these machines carry spray systems, chemical tanks, and specialized nozzles designed for professional cleaning work. Commercial cleaning drones are used by exterior cleaning companies, property management firms, and facility maintenance teams to service multi-story buildings, solar farms, and other structures that are difficult or dangerous to clean manually. ## Common Applications Cleaning operators use commercial drones across several service lines: - **Building facade washing**: Stucco, brick, metal panels, EIFS, and painted surfaces - **Window cleaning**: Touchless pure-water cleaning without squeegees or contact - **Solar panel maintenance**: Removing dust, pollen, and bird droppings that reduce energy output - **Soft washing**: Low-pressure chemical application for mold, algae, and organic stain removal ## The Business Case The [Sherpa Drone](https://lucidbots.com/sherpa-drone) is the leading commercial cleaning drone on the market. Operators typically finance the system with [monthly payments starting around $2,500](https://lucidbots.com/finance), which is less than what most companies spend on lift rentals for a single large job. The math is straightforward: fewer crew members, no lift equipment, faster job completion, and the ability to bid on work that competitors cannot safely reach.