Do you think it's possible? I believe so via a modified off-the-shelf drone equipped with solar panels and navigating software.
Program it to rest or recharge on flat (or slightly inclined) roofs, fields, etc.
Program it to recognize a threat, e.g., something greater than a certain size approaching, whereupon it powers up and takes off to another rest area if not yet fully charged.
Program it to make sure it has enough power in reserve for at least two repositionings at night if approached.
Program GPS parameters to fly mostly away from heavily populated areas.
Program it to communicate its whereabouts, with a live video stream being an optimal choice.
Launch when it looks like the projected path will have favorable weather conditions.
Would be great if there's a prize attach to such an endeavor for the first ever successful documented flight so to encourage competition perhaps from University alongside private entities. Or, a yearly contest to see who could fly their drone the furthest without any further input after its launched, with flying coast to coast being the goal. Time to accomplish the feat is not of importance, for it will take days to complete.
There could be an exception to the no-interference rule for ONLY simple repairs like motors or blades wearing out, but not the solar panels or modifying any programs.
Your thoughts.
The new drone that can fly for years on solar power. Look here article http://www.bbc.com/news/business-36788865 Flying drone with solar panels have some y advantages over conventional aircraft. A year ago, I bought mini quadcopter http://jonsguide.org/best-top-mini-quadcopter-reviews/, now it`s my Solar Drone Experiments Program it to rest or recharge on flat (or slightly inclined) roofs, fields, etc.
Program it to recognize a threat, e.g., something greater than a certain size approaching, whereupon it powers up and takes off to another rest area if not yet fully charged.
Program it to make sure it has enough power in reserve for at least two repositionings at night if approached.
Program GPS parameters to fly mostly away from heavily populated areas.
Program it to communicate its whereabouts, with a live video stream being an optimal choice.
Launch when it looks like the projected path will have favorable weather conditions.
Would be great if there's a prize attach to such an endeavor for the first ever successful documented flight so to encourage competition perhaps from University alongside private entities. Or, a yearly contest to see who could fly their drone the furthest without any further input after its launched, with flying coast to coast being the goal. Time to accomplish the feat is not of importance, for it will take days to complete.
There could be an exception to the no-interference rule for ONLY simple repairs like motors or blades wearing out, but not the solar panels or modifying any programs.
Your thoughts.
![](https://ip.bitcointalk.org/?u=http%3A%2F%2Fdronologue.fr%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2014%2F06%2Fsolar-drone.jpg&t=665&c=5rfgfewY93o1ig)
How much more battery life do you get by adding to your drone solar panels? I connected the solar array in parallel to the battery, and placed a Diode to the end drone of the circuit to prevent the battery from feeding the solar array. You need charge the battery a bit.