r/interestingasfuck 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/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.