ODENSE, Denmark - Battery life wouldn't be an issue for drones if they could just recharge on power lines as needed. That's exactly what an experimental new quadcopter can now do, allowing it to stay aloft pretty much indefinitely, Ben Coxworth writes for New Atlas. Continue reading original article.
The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:
24 September 2024 - Scientists from the University of Southern Denmark have developed a new charging technology primarily designed for autonomous drones conducting power line inspections. Since these drones are already near power lines, this technology is a natural fit for such tasks. The team, led by Viet Duong Hoang, built the system using a Tarot 650 Sport carbon fiber drone frame, equipping it with an electric quadcopter propulsion system, a 7,000-mAh lithium-polymer battery, and essential electronics like a Raspberry Pi 4 B, a Pixhawk V6X autopilot module, a millimeter-wave radar unit, and an RGB video camera.
The drone's passively actuated power-line gripper, mounted on top of the aircraft. The gripper, guided by two inward-sloping arms, allows the drone to securely attach to power lines. When the onboard software detects a low battery, the drone locates the nearest power line using its radar and camera. It then ascends directly toward the line, guiding it into the gripper.
The research report is available here.
Jamie Whitney, Senior Editor
Military + Aerospace Electronics
