r/interestingasfuck • u/Red_Lotus_Alchemist • 2d ago

/r/all A Chinese earthquake rescue team deployed drones to light up the night and aid search and rescue operations after the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar.

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u/BrentButler 2d ago

That’s a straightforward and clever use of a new technology. I’m curious what the usable flight time would be.

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u/certifiedintelligent 2d ago

They’re tethered, so they can fly and light as long as the generator on the ground runs.

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u/DeathByPetrichor 2d ago

That’s… freaking brilliant. Why has this not been done before? Tethered drone seems like a fantastic idea for increased flight duration for security or time lapses

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u/_stonedspiritv2 2d ago

It's being used in wars right now since the signal can't be jammed. Fiber optics tethered drones.

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u/MajesticBread9147 2d ago

I mean we've had wire guided missiles since the 20th century.

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u/seanular 2d ago

Honestly, wilder to me than heat seeking.

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u/Kenny741 2d ago

With the Milan launch system you can guide the rocket while it's flying due to it being tethered as well. We had a group of 30 people shoot it for the first time and nobody missed a 2m by 3m metal plate 2000m away.

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u/JohnnyFartmacher 2d ago

There is some alternate universe out there where the pigeon-controlled guided bomb worked out.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon

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u/FLABANGED 2d ago

Should check out beam riding missiles.

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u/Callisater 2d ago

During the Song Dynasty in China, the Fire Crow was invented, which was a kite with a gunpowder bomb attached. You could say this was the earliest version of the idea, and it was almost as old as gunpowder in warfare itself.

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u/xenelef290 2d ago

BGM-71 TOW

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u/Wakkit1988 2d ago

since the 20th century.

That is a terrible way to word this because it makes me feel old.

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u/shmodder 2d ago

The fiber cable doesn’t power the drone, though. It’s merely for data transmission.

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u/LevelBrilliant9311 2d ago

Fiber optics don't transfer power, so they don't increase flight duration.

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u/Fearless_Parking_436 2d ago

These are tethered for signal, not power. Having power up there is a bit more difficult.

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u/Kazath 2d ago

That's different though, fiber optics aren't used for power, so those drones still rely on batteries and can only be up a limited time. But yes, drones commanded by fiber optic lines can't be jammed by electronic warfare.

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u/darkroy131 2d ago

Fibre optic cables are not used to transfer electricity, as they are not conductive. They are used to control the drone, because radio jamming in Ukraine is pervasive. You need copper cables to transfer power, and they are prohibitively heavy for the drone to carry, not without sacrificing payload weight.

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u/leixiaotie 1d ago

that's crazy, fiber optics are essentially glass, that it can bend and follow a drone is amazing