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New spy plane to recharge batteries from power lines

Posted Dec 21, 2007 at 02:10PM by Isaac C. Listed in: Engineering Tags: mICrO
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Spy Plane to recharge using power lines - Image 1


Here's one spy plane that would make a real cool Autobot (or Decepticon, come to that): the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has come up with a plan for a small spy plane to recharge its batteries from power lines.

Because it's a spy plane, it can also "morph" to look like... well... something that isn't a plane so that anyone who spots it would think it's... something that isn't a plane. Possibly a piece of debris or trash (though a huge trash bag on a power line isn't really inconspicuous).

The plane is still in the works and the AFRL is still trying to figure out how to make a micro air vehicle (MAV) flying at 74 kph to perch (or dangle) on to a power line without going off with a boom (or possibly a crackle-fizzle-bzzzzt-boom.)

Also, there are concerns that the MAV would destroy a power line rather than actually taking power. On an 11 kilovolt line, it could short circuit the conductors and on a 400 kilovolt line, it could start discharging sparks.

The AFRL plans to have test flights in 2008, so when you see a piece of debris (or a huge trash bag?) on a power line, think twice. They're watching you.

[Via NewScientistTech] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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