Drones are all the rage today, and while the FAA is currently regulating them, dozens of developers are building new and useful ways for drones to operate efficiently. For example, all drones operate via a power source and can only fly for so long before they have to land and charge. But what if a drone could charge itself while flying? This is the concept behind XAir Unmanned Aerial Systems' latest development.
VentureBeat reported on Friday that XAir had created a prototype drone that it says uses wind power to charge the battery in order to stay in the air for more than a few hours. This development comes after a series of other technological developments that will let users modify drones to fit their needs accordingly. For example, a drone used by the agricultural industry would require different equipment than a drone in the cinematography industry.
This is especially important since drone regulations have limited a lot of the device's potential. For example, drones cannot weigh more than 55 pounds and fly above 500 feet. That makes it hard for drone developers, who would have to get exemptions to use heavier drones in higher distances.
However, XAir thinks it can work around the restrictions with this prototype. The fixed-wing drone doesn't have a battery, instead relying solely on wind power to stay in the air. According to XAir designer and engineer Seshu Kiran, the lack of battery removes a significant amount of weight from the device, making it easier to keep it in the air for long periods.
Kiran believes that such a device would be useful for the mining community, who could use it for "conductivity mapping", tracking magnetic electrical shifts in the ground.
The drone is still in the prototype stage, and it isn't clear when such a device would hit the market. But if it did, the device could offer a cheap and easily powered option for many industries that need surveillance tools.
Take a look at XAir's drones in the photos below:
