Neat UAV ideas?

[danstrider]

What neat ideas for UAV applications do you guys have?

I was thinking a solar powered glider for launch-and-forget XC.
Or a mini uav that can fly down a road like a car, underneath power lines and bridges.
Or a river-monitoring plane that could takeoff from water, fly down a river avoiding trees, bushes, crocs and count the number of boats along the way.

Ideas?

Dan
http://www4.ncsu.edu/~djedward/

[danstrider]

wow, no responses. c'mon guys, dream!

[Arp]

I just want a nice hovering pet which can follow me around the city (at least in good weather, and less populated places) while snapping pictures into a remote server...

...and survive following me, even if I decide to walk indoors (avoid bumping into things and crashing, or conduct said activity in safe manner)...

...and perhaps carry out some really simple demonstration task (negotiate a course between colorful balloons?).

I know it will take *much* work to get... but that's what I want.

[Fieldruts]

been thinking of a sweet twin engine jet like that

Like the sound.. but hate the clean up..;-)

[clolson]

How about something that can track your daughter on a date. (My oldest is only 4, but if I don't start working on something now, it won't be operational in time.)

[Fieldruts]

lol.. my grandson is 5, and he says , and I quote... "caught again"

:confused:

[shedao]

One of the fantastical ideas I had for a future UAV would be for search and rescue in the wilderness. I was thinking one that could pretty much never give up searching, recharging during a day using solar then flying the next day. It could spot a lost party, drop them supplies, then notify help.

[Blue Sky]

How about a plane for beginners that won't crash and always stays within the
confines of the flying field?
Programmed aerobatics could also be done (in a perfect world) but seems kinda boring.

-Dave

[typicalaimster]

Or a mini uav that can fly down a road like a car, underneath power lines and bridges.


You need to fly with me out in Az sometime ;)

[Gary Warner]

I'd like to set a plane down on the runway, walk away, go get breakfast, come back and find my plane right where I left it. Oh, and yes, it has to fly while I'm gone.

[shedao]

How about a plane for beginners that won't crash and always stays within the
confines of the flying field?
Programmed aerobatics could also be done (in a perfect world) but seems kinda boring.

-Dave


I'm working on an aerobatic UAV actually. It is mainly to demonstrate (and prove to myself) that precise control can be accomplished in a uav. I think this is necessary to build support within the community. It won't fly out of eye sight to keep everyone happy. And if all goes well it should put a smile on someone's face.

I plan to document it all and release the source code so I'll keep this forum updated when I get some meat on the project bones.

[crux12]

Why not have the UAV locate a telephone line to crash into with a little hook and recharge off the current passing thru the line.

[Tuner]

Quadra-Plane Flying Robot (rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=436841&page=1#post4792631)

This is my attempt to go one step beyond a UAV to allow this UAV to have full 6DOF of a helicopter along with the ability to cruise like a plane and the ability to walk.
I intend to integrate camera and an onboard DSP system to implement basic Machine Vision so that this can be a fully autonomous flying robot. Not just a Model airplane with an autopilot and remote camera feed.

Scott

[shedao]

Pretty interesting idea Tuner, keep us updated.


One other idea I had, although it probably has come to others, is to use small UAVs to relay wireless data between first responders in disaster areas where a antenna truck cannot reach. For instance over New Orleans after Katrina. A series of these UAVs and you have a small network.