Wind-Powered Drone Can Fly For Hours At A Time

The average consumer drones that are becoming more and more popular these days run on batteries, which means at best they can stay in the air between 20 and 30 minutes at a time. But XAir Unmanned Aerial Systems, a California startup, has begun work on a drone model that is powered by the wind, with a prototype that was able to fly for more than two hours continuously. While the lift come from the wind, the 24-ounce fixed-wing design aircraft also features a small solar panel that is used to power electronics and recharge the internal battery.

Speaking to Venture Beat, XAir's founding engineer Seshu Kiran said that their prototype was able to fly for over two hours with hardly any battery drain, but if the wind conditions were just right, their drone could theoretically fly indefinitely. Kiran adds that their goal is to build drones for uses that need longer time in the air than what battery-powered models can provide. Batteries can be made bigger, but that will only increase weight.

XAir is targeting industries that it believes would benefit from a long-flying drone, including agriculture, infrastructure inspection, mining, mapping, and cinematography. Their fixed-wing prototype also included electronic controls, sensors for wind-speed, and a dedicated micro-computer. To go with that, the startup is also developing software and ground control systems that can analyze and take advantage of wind direction.

While only six months old, XAir says it has already begun talks with companies and hopes to begin work by May of this year. With any luck their ideas will takeoff (get it?), as something like wind power could be exactly what the rapidly growing drone industry needs to achieve a breakthrough in flight lengths.

VIA Venture Beat

SOURCE XAir