A new type of drone developed by NASA operates using thermal updrafts, harnessing them to save fuel. This device glides on warm air currents, similar to how eagles and hawks extend their journeys without exerting much effort.
Michael Allen, an engineer at NASA and a collaborator on the Autonomous Flight project at the Dryden Flight Research Center, has successfully extended the operational range of small drones by programming them to autonomously ride on thermal updrafts.
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Michael Allen launching the drone manually. |
During testing, the software was programmed so that a 7 kg glider equipped with an engine would fly along a predetermined route at Edwards Air Force Base until it detected a rising thermal updraft. Once the drone began to “ride” this thermal, its engine would automatically shut off, allowing the aircraft to circle and maintain altitude thanks to the lift generated by the warm air currents.
Researchers reported that the small aircraft extended its flight time by an additional 60 minutes due to the automated flying process. It achieved an average altitude of 170 meters after 23 flights, and in a strong thermal event, it reached 800 meters.
“The test flights demonstrated that a small drone can mimic bird behavior and utilize free energy to hover in the sky,” Allen stated. “We have collected unique and valuable data during these flights, as well as insights into the aircraft’s responses to thermal currents. This will aid in improving technology and refining the algorithms currently in use.”
T. An (according to LiveScience)