Depending on how power efficient this mode is, a solar panel on the back might actually be able to extend the lurk time too. Pointless for active flying but if it's just sitting in the sun somewhere...

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago (2 children)

The added cost and weight of a solar panel might not be worth it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

What about landing the drones in a hung position between exposed electrical power transmission wires? Like lurking death bats.

Unlimited lurk time, and they could just activate and be flown off home if the power goes out for too long.

They would need a way of lowering the input voltage, but it can probably be done.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

there is a demo for powerline maintenance that does just that! it only needs to hang on to one wire too. quite a bit bigger than the fpv attack drones ukraine is using though.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

That's awesome confirmation. It's able to pull 50 W of power just off of one wire. The clamp mechanism is a bit big, but it can probably be left behind when it goes after a target.

The future is going to be scary.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Wouldn't even tiny panels help to some degree? My calculator has a tiny strip at the top that doesn't add a significant weight and powers it.

Presumably with lurk it would just be sitting there for days so even a small not heavy panel could be of some use.