This is perfect for (pretty much) stealthy energy stealing.
Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
61–70 of 149 posts
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#62I'm surprised this isn't already happening in Ukraine. They could fly small surveillance drones deep in enemy territory, perch on a power line, and send back lots of data. Not just video, but also sound and triangulating signals. This would also be useful in fog by monitoring major roads where high altitude drones and satellites would be obstructed.
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#63in my country this is considered theft and it is punishable by law considered you don't have a contract with the provider
> Power utilities are the perfect first customer. Sounds like having contracts with the power companies is their #1 goal.
if so, all is fine. but if there are other entities using it they need a contract with the utility
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#64> Removing battery swaps is the last step to deploy UAVs autonomously at scale. So ubiquitous surveillance, literally overhead, without any need to have a nearby/local charging/physical-management station/crew? > After power companies, we will service rail, road, telecom, real estate and other inspection markets. Oh? > After building drones for the Air Force and DARPA, ... Oh
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Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#65This must be illegal in so many ways
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#66Awesome name for the company 10/10
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#67Huh, is that legal? I mean I guess it is when the power company is the customer, as they talk about, but otherwise?
You can install electric fencing beneath high voltage transmission lines and it will be energized for ‘free’.
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#68Maybe this is silly to complain about, but how would power companies charge these drone companies for electricity consumption? Seems… just so easy to steal?
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#69I'm surprised this isn't already happening in Ukraine. They could fly small surveillance drones deep in enemy territory, perch on a power line, and send back lots of data. Not just video, but also sound and triangulating signals. This would also be useful in fog by monitoring major roads where high altitude drones and satellites would be obstructed.
The radio links and navigation are the hard parts.
Re: Drones that recharge directly on transmission lines
#70I'm surprised this isn't already happening in Ukraine. They could fly small surveillance drones deep in enemy territory, perch on a power line, and send back lots of data. Not just video, but also sound and triangulating signals. This would also be useful in fog by monitoring major roads where high altitude drones and satellites would be obstructed.
I'm not like a drone-i-ologist or nothin, but from what I gather, both sides have gotten really good at detecting and jamming drone communication in the Ukraine/Russia conflict, which would probably make that a tough use case. I've read that the newer attack drones are controlled by a reaaallly long, reaaalllyy thin fiber optic line!