Self Charging Drones

[Ellsworth]

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

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

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.

[Ellsworth]

https://engineerine.com/chinas-hydrogen-drone-record/

In a monumental leap for green aviation, China has successfully flown a hydrogen-powered drone for a continuous 30 hours, setting a new national record for endurance in unmanned aerial flight. Developed through a collaboration between AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) and Tsinghua University, this lightweight UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) showcases the promising potential of hydrogen fuel cells in reshaping the future of flight.

I saw a company explain that their hydrogen powered models have twice the flight time versus battery (7 hours hydrogen / 3.5 hours battery powered).