G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 This was bound to happen. Who wants to take up the challenge of making a hybrid drone? 2-3 HOUR flight time! Originally shared by OnBRM Hybrid Power Could Help Drone Delivery Take Off Google, Amazon, and DHL are working on drones that could someday deliver packages straight to your doorstep. Unfortunately, most drones would struggle to carry something as heavy as a textbook more than a dozen kilometers on battery power according to MIT Technology Review. A new hybrid gas-electric aircraft could make drone delivery more practical. Developed by a startup called +Top Flight Technologies, the six-rotor drone can fly for more than two-and-a-half hours—or 160 kilometers—carrying a payload weighing nine kilograms. http://www.tflighttech.com/ The aircraft’s range is many times that of any quadcopter on the market—the most popular type of drone for its maneuverability. Almost all quadcopters run on batteries, and can fly for only about 40 minutes between charges with a payload weighing just a couple of kilograms. The new drone can also fly more than twice as far as a radio-controlled, gasoline-powered helicopter of similar size. The efficiency of Top Flight’s drone is made possible by using batteries to supplement the gasoline engine. Power can come from the batteries, from a gasoline generator, or from both at once. And because the gasoline engine doesn’t have to supply all of the power, it’s possible to use a much smaller and more efficient one. Unlike a hybrid car, however, Top Flight’s drone doesn’t capture energy from braking. Top Flight was founded and is advised by researchers from +Draper Laboratories and +MIT. It has selected a relatively simple type of hybrid engine, known as a series hybrid, in which there is no mechanical connection between the gasoline engine and the rotors. The engine serves only as a generator that charges the battery or supplies electricity to the electric motors. +Long Phan, cofounder and CEO of Top Flight, says “future vehicles will fly well over three hours—we already have the new engine to do it.” The company is also developing object-avoidance technology and other safety features—which likely will be required for drones, at least in the United States. +http://goo.gl/N5wf3m Phan says the company hopes to start selling its hybrid drones by the end of the year. Learn more +http://www.technologyreview.com/news/535951/hybrid-power-could-help-drone-delivery-take-off/ Read also Google bought a maker of solar-powered drones http://goo.gl/9tEJ7J #drones #hybridpower #quadcopter #topflight Picture credit: +topflight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Wayne Hobbins I completely agree with you on the "future vehicles" thing. They already have one that flies for 2.5 hours, which is why I went ahead and linked the original article. It wasn't a pointless "In the future we will have flying cars and whatnot" type thing. I'm off to look for RC sized generators :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Wayne Hobbins Death and destruction. Not that we don't live with the same sort of problems every day. Bet this thing maneuvers like a flying brick compared to "normal" quads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 I just did my own facepalm. I had looked seriously into alternative energy years back and learned that you can turn any electric motor into a generator. Not as efficient as making power maybe, but doable. The only annoying bit is going to be creating an in-flight charge controller. Thanks Wayne Hobbins, gonna go take a look now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Found something similar for an RC car. Not entirely successful yet, but close. Would have to reduce the gas motor to get it light enough for a quad. http://www.krohpit.ru/2013/11/hybrid-car-power-station-eng.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Phorest Sherwood Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 This seems to be a non starter. The power provided by a hybrid setup would not overcome the additional weight in today's technology. I would think that a hydrogen fuel cell makes more sense, especially if you are combining gasoline and LiPo together... The explosion would be much more satisfying! On a serious note, I am sure this will happen, just quite a ways down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 Roger Sherwood Yep, a 250/450 doesn't look like it would have enough lift for a system like this. They're using a 1500mm platform with 6 24" props, 5000W generator, and 16Ah LiPo battery. This thing is a beast, probably because it needs to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Phorest Sherwood Posted March 23, 2015 Share Posted March 23, 2015 That is HUGE! Couldn't they just strap it to a Prius? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G+_Travis Hershberger Posted March 23, 2015 Author Share Posted March 23, 2015 lol Roger Sherwood, the Prius might get air time with one of these things on the hood! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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