The “Vampire Drone” Is Designed To Fly Forever



Engineers from the University of Southern Denmark have developed an ingenious technology that enables a drone to fly practically forever, without ever having to return to the ground. Thanks to a docking mechanism, its sensors, and its artificial intelligence system, the drone can recognize a power line every time it needs to recharge its batteries. As it approaches high-voltage cables, it clings on from below, sucking electricity like some kind of electric vampire. The drones would be able to essentially live on the grid and operate completely autonomously for extended periods of time with no need for human interaction. Utility companies could use the drones to inspect their lines instead of their current inspection process, which involves helicopters and ground personnel, both costly and inefficient. There are approximately 25 million miles of power lines worldwide, and all these could use drones to monitor, regulate, and optimize their operations.