UAV flies for 56 hours with 20 pound payload

[hook_dupin]

Here is one that was then 3D printed.

Obviously resolution needs to get better but it's incredible the things that are possible that weren't even thought of 5 years ago.

Haven't you millennials ever seen an audio cassette tape? You can look cool and rewind that baby with a pencil.

 

[Screaming_Emu]

Haven't you millennials ever seen an audio cassette tape? You can look cool and rewind that baby with a pencil.

I just see boobs

 

[MikeD]

Drone traffic watch.

 

[z987k]

I'm surprised that it hasn't yet.

One of our local survey operators does a lot of work for NOAA. Last year NOAA got their hands on a predetor or something similar to do the same job at the same time. Just the initial cost of the drone makes paying humans cheaper. Then, you have the fact that the drones can't discriminate what they're taking pictures of well as the human that's going to actually use the data and NOAA is still waiting to get their data back over a year later from the drone.
Oh and they crashed one to, so there's a few million down the crapper. But they actually crash a lot if you look at the stats from the last two wars. At rates deemed completely unacceptable by people that have to care about money.
Humans are still cheaper. When that changes, then we'll start to worry.

 

[Stone Cold]

Right now, the regulations are the only reason aerial survey hasn't been taken over by drones. No BLOS and no flying over people not involved, along with all of the airports out there. Give it a couple of years...

 

[wheelsup]

One of our local survey operators does a lot of work for NOAA. Last year NOAA got their hands on a predetor or something similar to do the same job at the same time. Just the initial cost of the drone makes paying humans cheaper. Then, you have the fact that the drones can't discriminate what they're taking pictures of well as the human that's going to actually use the data and NOAA is still waiting to get their data back over a year later from the drone.
Oh and they crashed one to, so there's a few million down the crapper. But they actually crash a lot if you look at the stats from the last two wars. At rates deemed completely unacceptable by people that have to care about money.
Humans are still cheaper. When that changes, then we'll start to worry.

All new technology has a higher accident rate. The F16 was thought to be "doomed" from the onset due to its initial high crash rate.

 

[Inverted25]

I am only 28 in the 91 side and I'm not worried about drone taking my job before I retire. There will be select areas it make sense such as aerial photography. But passenger carrying airplanes I just don't see happening. Hackers being the biggest threat. They have got control of the military drones in the Middle East which are supposed to be impossible. Wait till you have no pilots and a hacker takes it over.

 

[hook_dupin]

For some survey operations sure. I do a very niche agro survey using mutliple cameras and can cover upwards of 200-300 fields in a given day, over 3 states, just a tick over 1,000 nm, Have fun getting that traction with a UAV.

That already exists in UAV form.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenth...aves-terrorists-nowhere-to-hide/#7e39e3445271

 

[ozziecat35]

That already exists in UAV form.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenth...aves-terrorists-nowhere-to-hide/#7e39e3445271

Sure, but as mentioned above, with the money and R&D capabilities of the US Military complex, a lot more is possible. Find me a civilian operator who can do the same thing with a civilian budget.

 

[hook_dupin]

Sure, but as mentioned above, with the money and R&D capabilities of the US Military complex, a lot more is possible. Find me a civilian operator who can do the same thing with a civilian budget.

Give it 5-10 years.

Kodak thought it owned the world, and it came crashing down very fast for them. Same with Nokia.

I really think the photo survey business is doomed just like how traffic watch disappeared.

 

[ozziecat35]

Give it 5-10 years.

Kodak thought it owned the world, and it came crashing down very fast for them. Same with Nokia.

I really think the photo survey business is doomed just like how traffic watch disappeared.

I don't disagree. I think UAV's will start taking over fixed wing stuff moreso when battery technology improves.

 

[tomokc]

Here's a 3D model we created of an overpass collapse. A lift was being transported that did not have its boom fully retracted, and struck the overpass as it attempted to pass underneath. We were able to show the lift underneath the partially-collapsed roadway. https://sketchfab.com/models/0aa9f97bd26b48f2b5908d36e4c38f9f/embed