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Paper link, includes videos of the prototypes: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07609-4
https://archive.is/Yi8Fn ...but that's still paywalled.
Here's the unlisted demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBoee1l4OXo
I'm aware of several past solar-powered airplanes. Is this the first solar powered rotary-wing aircraft? (Looking for 'solar drone' mostly turns up drones used to clean solar panels)
I would guess the key here is the "researchers reported that they had developed a drone they're calling the CoulombFly, which is capable of self-powered hovering for as long as the Sun is shining." It only seems to operate off the solar power, no additional power. So the light keeps shining, the drone keeps flying.
This one... I'm seeing flying solar powered landmines (skymines?) that can flutter around an active combat zone aimlessly for hours until it detects a personnel target and bops them near the temple with a small round. I wonder if there are any actual benefits over just putting a solar panel on a regular quadcopter and having them charge a battery, maybe staying stationary in field or ditch near the road, relocating once in a while and waiting for a target.
Slaughterbots, assemble! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CO6M2HsoIA
Every time I see one of these drone tech demonstrations, I can't help but wonder how they will be adapted for warfare. This one... I'm seeing flying solar powered landmines (skymines?) that can flutter around an active combat zone aimlessly for hours until it detects a personnel target and bops them near the temple with a small round. I wonder if there are any actual benefits over just putting a solar panel on a regu…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I would guess the key here is the "researchers reported that they had developed a drone they're calling the CoulombFly, which is capable of self-powered hovering for as long as the Sun is shining." It only seems to operate off the solar power, no additional power. So the light keeps shining, the drone keeps flying.
Right, I'm can see that. I'm asking, is this the first example in the solar rotary-wing (miniature) aircraft category, or are there any other prior examples?
Yeah, just make stuff up...
I'm aware of several past solar-powered airplanes. Is this the first solar powered rotary-wing aircraft? (Looking for 'solar drone' mostly turns up drones used to clean solar panels)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airbus_Zephyr
> One Zephyr can replace 250 cell phone towers. It can be used to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) with a wide visual payload coverage of 20×30 km (12.4×18.6 mi) and can be equipped with radar, LIDAR and infrared technologies.