Prepare yourself for fixed-wing drones that never have to touch the ground again after takeoff.
MIT genius Joseph Moore is creating an unmanned aerial vehicle that can alight on power lines to recharge its batteries. It would never have to land.
According to PhD candidate Moore, a drone with a magnetometer should effectively be able to “see” the magnetic fields emitted by power lines. It could then fly toward the source and perch on the line, just like an overgrown, electronic bird.
The technology could enable UAVs to travel almost unlimited distances, making Amazon’s drone delivery program much more plausible, but there’s no word yet on when this system will become a reality for commercial use.