This is GREAT! I've been interested in this space for a long time, and a friend started a UAV company.
I've got nothing much to say other than it feels GREAT to see someone else doing a project I've always wanted to do but likely never would have gotten around to, and doing it well. Now I don't feel a "responsibility" to do it. ;-) Do feel free to hit me up if you ever need programming or DSP help ;-)
I'm curious: what are the scaling laws for this? What I mean is, what's the smallest plane that could still do continuous (or nearly continuous) flight?
Also curious what panels and batteries you're using (heck, I'm curious about the whole BOM... :)).
Don't worry, you'll have so many applications...
Have you put much thought into data uplink/downlink?
Gosh I'd love to stick some sensors on a half dozen of these and have a giant phased array...
Could a glider stay aloft for longer with less cost (long term) given a "Refueling" copter? I imagine a solar ground station with a drone physically moving charged batteries up and down might be another interesting way to stay aloft. I didn't say better. Just "interesting." :)
Can you also fly low altitudes?
Are the propellers so loud as to make microphones useless?
Honestly, SO COOL, and best of luck!
I've got nothing much to say other than it feels GREAT to see someone else doing a project I've always wanted to do but likely never would have gotten around to, and doing it well. Now I don't feel a "responsibility" to do it. ;-) Do feel free to hit me up if you ever need programming or DSP help ;-)
I'm curious: what are the scaling laws for this? What I mean is, what's the smallest plane that could still do continuous (or nearly continuous) flight?
Also curious what panels and batteries you're using (heck, I'm curious about the whole BOM... :)).
Don't worry, you'll have so many applications...
Have you put much thought into data uplink/downlink?
Gosh I'd love to stick some sensors on a half dozen of these and have a giant phased array...
Could a glider stay aloft for longer with less cost (long term) given a "Refueling" copter? I imagine a solar ground station with a drone physically moving charged batteries up and down might be another interesting way to stay aloft. I didn't say better. Just "interesting." :)
Can you also fly low altitudes?
Are the propellers so loud as to make microphones useless?
Honestly, SO COOL, and best of luck!