Self Charging Drones

https://interestingengineering.com/i...ine-recharging

"Non-stop drone operations enabled by overhead power line recharging"

Quote:

Originally Posted by article

Researchers have proposed an autonomous self-recharging drone system that can operate continuously over extended periods. The system works by drawing energy from overhead transmission cables. The drone can find power lines and get close to them for a landing thanks to its powerful onboard perception and navigation system. Once a gripping mechanism grabs the power line wire, a control circuit adjusts the magnetic field in a split-core current transformer. This ensures sufficient holding force and enables battery recharging.

The fastest drone speed is 360 MPH.
https://dronediscuss.com/top-speeds-...-types-drones/

2900 miles from NY to San Francisco, ignoring weather conditions that's about 8 hours of actual flight time for the fastest possible self-charging drones.
Drop some floating solar powered recharging stations into the ocean along a good route and suddenly drones are flying from continent to continent -- or ocean current powered recharging stations.

Approximately 9.75 hours of actual flight time from England to New York.
Approximately 14.75 hours of actual flight time from Argentina to New York.
Approximately 20 hours of actual flight time from China to America.

Ignoring potential negative uses, this could help developing nations in some majorly positive ways.