I know battery technology is getting better, how long do you think it will be before we have drones that are capable of flying for 45 minutes or so. People that don't understand drones always scoff when I tell them I get about 17 minutes per flight, 13 if it is windy.

How would you like 94 mins flight time? ;-)
http://www.airbornedrones.co

The Stationair gets 90mins as well. 30km range...



RedHotPoker

thars a tool not a toy lol

There already are drones that can fly for 45 minutes.
They just aren't cheap ready-to-fly drones.

Steve-76 Posted at 2017-1-30 13:39
thars a tool not a toy lol

Yeah man, that's what She said!! Ha

A real man's tool....  Chuckles


RedHotPoker

45 Minutes?  How about 1700 miles?

Long Flight

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-1-30 13:03
How would you like 94 mins flight time? ;-)
http://www.airbornedrones.co

Now that's what I'm talking about.  Let's see DJI produce one in the 2-3000. dollar range.Mass production baby.

KM5RG-Robert Posted at 2017-1-30 16:20
Now that's what I'm talking about.  Let's see DJI produce one in the 2-3000. dollar range.Mass production baby.

What is your destiny, or mission? ;-)


RedHotPoker

There will still be some idiot that wants to fly it for 46 minutes at 1600ft, 10 km away before hitting the RTH button and wondering what went wrong...

I think, it's good, that time of flight is limited for those drones. 20-30 min is enough for hobbyists to VLOS flights. Longer flight durablility should be allowed only for proffesionals with some qualifications. Look how many accidents we have now. Drone is something more than a toy, you can do serious damage with it. Extending flight time will increase numbers of run aways, accidents etc. imo.

endotherm Posted at 2017-1-31 04:51
There will still be some idiot that wants to fly it for 46 minutes at 1600ft, 10 km away before hitting the RTH button and wondering what went wrong...

I agree with you. Sure a few minutes more might be nice, but you know for sure if you put something out there with a 45 minute flight time.....there will be a lot of people get into trouble for sure. Having a little restriction the way we do keeps us from venturing out into the unknown. Not totally a bad thing in my opinion. I mean how far do you really want to go? I think 2-3 miles is enough.

Fly forever with one of these

The current phantom can get 45 to 50 flight times with no camera and added batteries. It's not that far off.

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-1-30 16:21
What is your destiny, or mission? ;-)

Who knows?  But I'll find one!

Hydrogen fuel cell generator in place of the battery.

I've got 3 batteries at the moment to use, the flights times achievable from these batteries are not bad in my opinion.
I'm planning on buying an inverter soon so that I will be able to charge the batteries in my van if I want to be out for more than a couple of hours.

Rosomak Posted at 2017-1-31 05:33
I think, it's good, that time of flight is limited for those drones. 20-30 min is enough for hobbyists to VLOS flights. Longer flight durablility should be allowed only for proffesionals with some qualifications. Look how many accidents we have now. Drone is something more than a toy, you can do serious damage with it. Extending flight time will increase numbers of run aways, accidents etc. imo.

Yes I agree with your comment.

KM5RG-Robert Posted at 2017-1-31 06:45
Who knows?  But I'll find one!

Mission Impossible? Haha


RedHotPoker

Maxi3D Posted at 2017-1-31 07:59
Hydrogen fuel cell generator in place of the battery.

A hampster wheel might work too. Hahaha
But make sure you warm it up good first...  ;-)




RedHotPoker

Proton exchange membrane fuel cell is the answer guys.

With some aperture radar repeaters, then 2000 mi is possible.

"how long do you think it will be before we have drones that are capable of flying for 45 minutes or so"

Here's an example of one already available:  http://www.turboace.com/

endotherm Posted at 2017-2-1 03:16
[view_image]

best comment!

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-1-30 13:03
How would you like 94 mins flight time? ;-)
http://www.airbornedrones.co

Wow. That thing looks HUGE! Did you see the part where they drop the phantom and it takes off mid air!!? That's crazy!

Adam Flurk Posted at 2017-2-2 11:27
Wow. That thing looks HUGE! Did you see the part where they drop the phantom and it takes off mid air!!? That's crazy!

Yes, the big bird, makes our Phantom resemble a tiny Hot Wheels model. Hahaha
Pretty impressive drone isn't that?  Start saving your spare change, and any extra funds towards it...
So if you want to step up the drone food chain, you know what you need to do. ;-)

I would love to win the lottery to buy the drones that impress me most.

RedHotPoker

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-2-2 11:39
Yes, the big bird, makes our Phantom resemble a tiny Hot Wheels model. Hahaha
Pretty impressive drone isn't that?  Start saving your spare change, and any extra funds towards it...
So if you want to step up the drone food chain, you know what you need to do. ;-)

Tell me about it! The possibilities are just about endless if you win the lottery haha.

Maxi3D Posted at 2017-1-31 07:59
Hydrogen fuel cell generator in place of the battery.

They already exist. But who here, could afford such a luxury?
http://www.theverge.com/2015/12/15/10220456/intelligent-energy-hydrogen-fuel-cell-drone

http://dronelife.com/2016/04/11/mmc-announces-first-commercial-hydrogen-drone/

https://www.engadget.com/2015/05/20/hydrogen-powered-drone/




Very awesome but they will cost a pretty penny.


RedHotPoker

Adam Flurk Posted at 2017-2-2 11:51
Tell me about it! The possibilities are just about endless if you win the lottery haha.

I would love to build my own, at that point. Haha

The endless dreams would certainly expand, along with my broadening horizon. ;-)


RedHotPoker

Maxi3D Posted at 2017-1-31 07:59
Hydrogen fuel cell generator in place of the battery.

But this is still my favourite model. Isn't she pretty? Haha ;-)
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2016/03/hydrogen-powered-drone-takes-off/

She Sure beats "Go fly a kite!"

Notice the DJI RC sitting there? ;-)

RedHotPoker

endotherm Posted at 2017-2-1 03:16
[view_image]

What is that? Your own personal project? Hahaha
The hot jet exhaust would surely melt it...
And the cords are not fully inserted, ready to fall free...
But we must love the ingenuity. ;-)


RedHotPoker

I am not a good artist so I cannot draw it, (Maybe someone can take by text and make it a pic):

they already have remote charging stations, so the plane in the picture above can be hundred of feet away and charge multiple drones as they fly on each side, or below the mid air drone charging plane or another drone (to eliminate potential heat exhaust damage to the drones).  
The way it will work in production will be that the Fuel Charging drones will be flying around and they will be automatically called by the drones for mid air re-fueling. They will be equipped with apple pay so the payment for the charge will be automatically deducted from the drone operator's credit card.
  
We can also have Ground Charging stations, which can charge the drone, as it hovers above the charging station.

Something like this, but of course in the production environment, there will be different, smaller/agile slower flying fuel plane though:

Eventually though, I think the industry will move towards Long Term Flying Battery Chargers (LTFBC).

The following is in early development:
  
Drone vendors and Drone Charge mfgr's will have to come up with a standard communications protocol; the drones will automaticlaly send a "Charge Me Alert" (CMA) signal and GPS coordinates in mid flight.  The Charger station will then respond with it's current GPS location and actual speed. The Drone Charge Time is then calculated.  If within acceptable limits (time/remaining power), then the drone will either fly to the stationary charging station, or for mid air charging, then both the drone and LTFBC will approach each other and set up altitude and gps location.   If there are no refueling stations, or LTFBD's within the required range, then the Smart RTH is initiated.  

MD_Icarus Posted at 2017-2-3 13:51
I am not a good artist so I cannot draw it, (Maybe someone can take by text and make it a pic):

they already have remote charging stations, so the plane in the picture above can be hundred of feet away and charge multiple drones as they fly on each side, or below the mid air drone charging plane or another drone (to eliminate potential heat exhaust damage to the drones).  

Have you seen these?





RedHotPoker

RedHotPoker Posted at 2017-2-3 14:13
Have you seen these?https://youtu.be/_XTifZEiM4k
[view_image]

Looks Promising!

MD_Icarus Posted at 2017-2-3 14:32
Looks Promising!

Technology today, can be astounding and wonderful.

To think, we are only in the infancy, of it all. ;-)

The digital future looks bright...


RedHotPoker