When it comes to drones, design is everything. While the drone world has tons of companies trying to come up with the next big thing, the design has been largely consistent. For standard drones, it is the quadcopter design.
Several models add tiny changes here and there, such as rotor guards or even transforming bodies. However, the design stays the same – four rotors, giving the drone enough capability to both hover and dash.
Quadcopter Limitations
While it is the norm, it is far from perfect. Strong winds can make life hard for these flying machines. The design does not have enough resistance against turbulence. For smaller drones, this issue is worse, as they are made of lighter, less durable material. This leads to a faster consumption of battery, and in turn, a shorter flight.
Strong winds can also derail a drone’s flight path. This can lead to damage, from minor bumps to full-on crash that takes the drone out of action indefinitely. Like with other modern upgrades, the drone may have to draw inspiration from the past. This time, drones try to unlock perks from the classic aircraft designs of the past millennium.
Quadcopter Replacement
A new design idea may change this norm entirely. Researchers at the Brown University suggest that using airplane wings may be a better fit for smaller drones. Yes, the standard two-wing design present in standard aircrafts may be the answer.
The presence of four rotors in modern drones creates a great combination of stability and power. With the change to airplane wings, smaller drones have been observed to have better resistance against turbulence. This gives it a faster flight, while also increasing battery life. Without dealing with air resistance, the drone saves more power. The design also makes it capable of dealing with stronger wind conditions.
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