Competition appears to be heating up between electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) plane manufacturers Joby and BETA Technologies, with the two startups announcing deals to install their air taxi recharging systems in airports on opposite sides of the US.
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The highly geeked out unit of the U.S. Department of Defense has issued a $10 million contract to develop its long contemplated Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay system (POWER), which will likely use drones as airborne platforms to conduct electric refueling for other vehicles – or for re-juicing their own batteries.
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Researchers in Denmark have developed tech that may well prove revolutionary in power grid surveys – and for UAV flight capacity generally: a drone that can tap into the same power lines it is inspecting to recharge its batteries, then continue on with its mission.
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Limited battery capacity has been the primary brake on operating longer drone flights, but tech developed by a Washington state company may hold the key to powering UAV longer – perhaps indefinitely – through its remote charging application.
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It’s hardly breaking news that battery life limitations are one of the biggest brakes on expanded individual drone missions and wider deployment by businesses. But California startup LaunchPoint Electric Propulsion Solutions thinks its hybrid electric generators will soon extend craft operation and increase payload hauls with one simple fix.
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A pair of partnering companies is working to allow drones to recharge their batteries while docked atop specially equipped streetlights. Who needs droneports, anyway?
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If you’re going to think new, think new really big. That’s the attitude of New York startup Kelekona, which plans to produce an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) craft capable of transporting 40 people, or 10,000 lbs. of cargo.
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A San Francisco-based company has announced the availability of a new power cell that uses high-capacity ultracapacitors. That means it’s capable of delivering large quantities of energy in an instant yet requires minimal time for recharging.
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DJI launched a few new accessories for the DJI Spark (still priced at $399!), our favorite mini-drone. Last week they introduced the Spark Portable Power Charging Station for USD $89, which is a battery-powered charger for up to three Spark batteries. The charger itself can be fully charged in 1 hour and 35 minutes and can in turn charge up to three Spark batteries in 2.5 hours with its own 5000 mAh battery.
This week DJI introduces the Spark Portable Power Pack for USD $139 but the DJI website is unclear about what you will be getting when you buy this item.
Update: DJI updated their website on 11/30. The Spark Portable Power Pack does include two batteries.
