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Super cool. I am just getting into drones, and I am surprised at the flight time limitations of most commercial drones. This unit for example, to scan a mine ne

by ehnto 5y ago

Super cool. I am just getting into drones, and I am surprised at the flight time limitations of most commercial drones. This unit for example, to scan a mine network, would take constantly repositioning an operator to charge the unit as you make your way through the site, as the reach required will get longer and longer as you scan more of the site. What in others opinions is the fix for this? Is it a technology that doesn't exist or is it a technology we aren't allowed to use (tiny nuclear?) Of course it's always a design compromise, there are huge drones with 40min flight times, fast drones with 5min flight times, and much inbetween. But I guess I see the practical application of drones challenged by the flight time limitations.

mig39 5y ago
The problem is that you have to have heavier batteries for longer flight time, and then you need more power to lift that extra weight, so more power needed, so more battery needed. It's a vicious cycle. I'm sure there's some rule or law about it. And unlike normal aircraft fuel, battery-powered drones don't get lighter during the flight. Batteries weight the same charged or not.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
rhinoceraptor 5y ago
It seems like it's just a fundamental rocket equation type limitation, battery tech has a very low mass vs energy density, and it's paired with an aircraft that will always be much lower efficiency than fixed wing. I'm sure much longer flight times could be achieved using combustion engines, but obviously that wouldn't be a great idea inside a mine or in sensitive areas. One workaround could be a sort of blimp/dirigible, but I don't think it could be scaled down the same size as a quadcopter.
xsmasher 5y ago
Teamwork; you have another drone carrying batteries or whole drones in and out.
Youden 5y ago
In my opinion the fix is to stop using rotary wing designs, they're simply inefficient. Instead, use fixed-wing designs. There's a reason planes are so much more common than helicopters. Another alternative might be very small airships, especially indoors.
- DLA 5y ago
  Planes need forward velocity to generate lift using fixed wings. No vertical takeoff/landing/hover with fixed wings unless you do some very fancy thrust vectoring.

by ehnto 5y ago

mig39 5y ago

The problem is that you have to have heavier batteries for longer flight time, and then you need more power to lift that extra weight, so more power needed, so more battery needed. It's a vicious cycle. I'm sure there's some rule or law about it. And unlike normal aircraft fuel, battery-powered drones don't get lighter during the flight. Batteries weight the same charged or not.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

rhinoceraptor 5y ago

It seems like it's just a fundamental rocket equation type limitation, battery tech has a very low mass vs energy density, and it's paired with an aircraft that will always be much lower efficiency than fixed wing. I'm sure much longer flight times could be achieved using combustion engines, but obviously that wouldn't be a great idea inside a mine or in sensitive areas. One workaround could be a sort of blimp/dirigible, but I don't think it could be scaled down the same size as a quadcopter.

xsmasher 5y ago

Teamwork; you have another drone carrying batteries or whole drones in and out.

Youden 5y ago

In my opinion the fix is to stop using rotary wing designs, they're simply inefficient. Instead, use fixed-wing designs. There's a reason planes are so much more common than helicopters. Another alternative might be very small airships, especially indoors.

DLA 5y ago
Planes need forward velocity to generate lift using fixed wings. No vertical takeoff/landing/hover with fixed wings unless you do some very fancy thrust vectoring.