HYBRID DRONE COULD BE A GAME CHANGER

Hybrid Drone Has 13 Times the Range of Battery Powered UAVs

A hybrid gas-electric UAV from an MIT spin-off could be a game changer in drone delivery systems. Top Flight Technologies has built a six-rotor drone that can fly for over two and half hours, or 100 miles (160 km), carrying a payload of over 20 pounds (nine kilograms). In contrast most quadcopters are battery powered and need to recharge after 40 minutes of flying and only have a limited ability to carry cargo. Google is developing a drone that is to be used as a delivery system but so far it has only shown a capacity to deliver light objects such as vaccines and first-aid kits. The hybrid UAV supplements the gasoline engine with a battery pack, and can opt to draw power from the gas generator, the batteries or both at the same time. There is no mechanical connection between the engine and the rotors, rather the gasoline engine acts as a generator that recharges the battery or supplies power to the electric motors. Top Flight Technologies is aiming to sell the hybrid drone by the end of 2015.