Future Directions for Utility Drone Design

[josh]

Example Design Query: If a drone can be the size of a dragon fly, or smaller, is the design of the dragon fly wing a potential clue for innovation? The dragonfly wing is apparently a corrugated airfoil. When it beats, it generates lift from air displacement, like a copter, and from being an airfoil in motion, like a fixed-wing plane. Is the combination energy efficient? Intuitively, gliders are very low power per minute aloft. So perhaps that is an interesting route.

[josh]

For long running times in tiny drones, consider incorporating pockets of Helium as part of the design, letting them be monitored for pressure & periodically re-supplied. That might be a route to the lowest-energy usage design.

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