Category: Research

Research

Aquatic Fixed-Wing Drone Could Lake-Hop Across Canada

This aquatic drone has a clever mechanism that allows it to efficiently take off and land on water
Image: University of Sherbrooke
With a clever mechanism that allows it to efficiently take off and land on water, this drone could use solar charging to travel around lakes all summer.

Fixed-wing drones are the way to go for efficient flying, but they pose challenges for long term autonomy because of how demanding they are when it comes to takeoffs and landings. You need a nice big flat area, and usually you need infrastructure support. A drone that needs to operate for days or weeks at a time completely on its own can’t rely on either, which means you need to get creative.Continue reading