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.

[u/Red_Lotus_Alchemist]

[u/BrentButler]

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

[u/certifiedintelligent → u/BrentButler]

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

[u/IntelligentMoney2 → u/certifiedintelligent]

Why this and not a balloon? Less power consumption. What would be the limitations on a balloon? A drone is more stable to wind, what else?

Edit: I’m actually curious, not trying to start a war over this. What are the benefits of a drone over a balloon?

[u/phire → u/IntelligentMoney2]

A balloon just isn't a very stable platform. The wind is constantly moving it, so will need a gimbal to keep the light pointing in the correct direction. Even with the gimbal, the light will shift around in ways which might be distracting to workers.
With the right sensors, a drone can lock it self into a fixed position in 3D space. You can even make it fly to a fixed position over the site for better light positioning. You don't need a gimbal, because the drone can just rotate.

A balloon is lighter than air, so you still need a heavy base to anchor it in place and counter any wind. The drone doesn't need any anchoring it's neutral.

I suspect by the time you include the extra anchoring, the gimbal and equipment to fill the balloon with helium, the drone is far lighter and more portable. This is before we even talk about helium logistics.

With the wind, you can't operate the balloon anywhere near power lines, and you probably need a dedicated person to supervise each balloon full time. I suspect you can probably get away with leaving these tethered drones more or less unattended, once they are proven.