Credit: The Sun
A MINI drone and mothership have been developed as part of a NEW drone technology to aid in search and rescue missions.
The so-called “drone mother ship” is able to drop out little “worker bee” drones where they are most needed.
“The MorphoLander is a hybrid drone that can fly over, land on, and walk across rough terrain before launching tiny drones from its back could be useful for search-and-rescue operations,” according to New Scientist.
The giant drone has a shorter battery life, but the little drones may fly about on a mission for a longer period of time, necessitating the carrier drone system.
The giant drone can fly and handle tough terrain, but the battery life is barely 12 minutes.
“The smaller drones have a longer flight time and can carry out separate missions.
“This could let the system provide a longer flying time in search and rescue missions.”
Dzmitry Tsetserukou at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology in Moscow, Russia, and his colleagues have created the MorphoLander – a hybrid drone that acts like an aircraft carrier – to get smaller drones near to areas of interest and solve the problem of limited battery life.
The MorphoLander has four articulated legs that allow it to land on uneven terrain, and even walk across it, while maintaining a level position. It can also take off vertically like a helicopter, thanks to its large rotors.
One of the main challenges in using drones for search-and-rescue missions is their limited battery life. The smaller drones that can access hard-to-reach areas typically have even shorter battery lives. This restricts their ability to stay in the air for extended periods of time, reducing their effectiveness in locating and rescuing people.
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