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Prepare for drones that ‘perch’ on power lines to recharge, never have to land
The Washington Times ^ | April 9, 2014 | Douglas Ernst

Posted on 04/09/2014 10:11:42 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

(VIDEO-AT-LINK)

Imagine a world where drones never have to touch the ground after takeoff. That’s what MIT PhD. candidate Joseph Moore did, and now he’s on the cusp of creating a drone that can “perch” on power lines just like birds to recharge its batteries.

Mr. Moore gave Business Insider a demonstration of the technology he’s perfecting by using a glider as proof of concept.

In short, if a drone is equipped with the a magnetometer it should be possible to make the aircraft capable of identifying magnetic fields given off by power lines, home in on the signal they emit, and then maneuver in such a way that would allow the drone to perch until fully charged.

Developing such a system for fixed wing aircraft is desirable because of their ability to carry heavier loads than those that use a quadrotor design, Business Insider reported....

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Government
KEYWORDS: bigbrother; drones; power; surveillance; uavs
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To: Axenolith

I think that this just might be the right tool for drone extermination.
http://www.pyramydair.com/article/_50_Caliber_Dragon_Slayer_Air_Rifle_December_2007/45


21 posted on 04/09/2014 11:11:32 PM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: bunkerhill7

You read my mind. Targets!


22 posted on 04/09/2014 11:13:13 PM PDT by TigersEye (Stupid is a Progressive disease.)
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To: Celtic Conservative

That’s impossible, even for a computer.

:)


23 posted on 04/09/2014 11:13:58 PM PDT by PastorBooks
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To: Mastador1

I would hit those with a slingshot when i was a kid. Pidgeons especially as they are considered rats with wings..


24 posted on 04/09/2014 11:19:09 PM PDT by max americana (fired liberals in our company last election, and I laughed while they cried (true story))
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To: PastorBooks

Thanks for getting the reference. Star wars trivia: the guy who said that line- actor Denis Lawson, who played Wedge in the original trilogy is the maternal uncle of Ewan MacGregor who played Obi wan Kenobi in the prequels.

CC


25 posted on 04/09/2014 11:29:27 PM PDT by Celtic Conservative (tease not the dragon for thou art crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup)
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To: ElkGroveDan

I’m not positive about this, but I think that it’s very difficult to insulate very high voltages.


26 posted on 04/09/2014 11:31:10 PM PDT by matthew fuller (No, I don't miss GWB- I miss Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld.)
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To: staytrue

“Now if a bird lands on a power line and you throw the bird a line connected to the ground, the bird gets zapped.”

And you better pray to God that the bird catches it!


27 posted on 04/09/2014 11:57:09 PM PDT by 21twelve (http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2185147/posts 2013 is 1933 REBORN)
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To: Mastador1; Ray76

You know if you shoot at the drones and miss a little low, you might take down the power line for a few thousand people.


28 posted on 04/10/2014 3:28:43 AM PDT by staytrue
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“It might make more sense to get near a transmitting tower.”

Probably too far apart. The drones want to carry small batteries and stay close to the target they are observing.


29 posted on 04/10/2014 3:32:06 AM PDT by staytrue
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To: DemforBush

“Guess I better get back to work on that Magnetic Pulse rifle I’ve been designing.”

No such thing. Since magnetic monopoles are a huge rarity, you can only have an EMP rifle (electro magnetic pulse).


30 posted on 04/10/2014 3:34:06 AM PDT by staytrue
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To: staytrue

Maybe Fedzilla shouldn’t be employing legions of UAV and UAS to spy on American Citizens. Maybe “a few thousand people” should vote for politicians who won’t tolerate gross violations of the Fourth Amendment.


31 posted on 04/10/2014 3:37:04 AM PDT by NorthMountain
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To: staytrue

A low velocity .22 probably won’t damage a power line & anyway a perching drone will be larger than any bird.

Seems that the best way to avoid hitting a power line is for the line of fire to be parallel to the line.


32 posted on 04/10/2014 4:46:16 AM PDT by elcid1970 ("In the modern world, Muslims are living fossils.")
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To: bunkerhill7

...yes, a lot easier to hit sitting still...can use a 7.62 scoped rather than a shotgun.


33 posted on 04/10/2014 5:49:17 AM PDT by ThePatriotsFlag ("There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide." - Thomas Jefferson)
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To: staytrue

Well if you can’t shoot, don’t! I doubt seriously they will be charging on the high tension lines, so probably just a block or two! I guess we should all just bend over because fighting back is just too darn risky.


34 posted on 04/10/2014 9:28:54 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: bunkerhill7

Better find out where their “blind spot” is before you approach for the shot...

Of course, long distance shots could come from “anywhere”.


35 posted on 04/10/2014 9:30:16 AM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: Celtic Conservative

“Star wars trivia: the guy who said that line- actor Denis Lawson, who played Wedge in the original trilogy is the maternal uncle of Ewan MacGregor who played Obi wan Kenobi in the prequels.”

“Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future.” — Yoda


36 posted on 04/10/2014 12:37:56 PM PDT by PastorBooks
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To: HiTech RedNeck
I don’t think most high tension lines are. It would be quite expensive.

That's true, transmission lines are not insulated however lower voltage distribution and service lines usually are.

37 posted on 04/10/2014 1:12:54 PM PDT by ElkGroveDan (My tagline is in the shop.)
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To: staytrue

A buddies kid has one he built out of an airsoft rifle and a bunch of spare parts that would put a steel slug through a beer can from his bedroom window to the back of the yard.

I figure if you can get that with ~20-30 bucks in scrap, someone should be able to make one that hits with authority for a few grand...


38 posted on 04/10/2014 5:01:05 PM PDT by Axenolith (Government blows, and that which governs least, blows least...)
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