Jones, Kevin D.

The single biggest constraint to unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) usage is endurance. This effort will examine the tradeoff between free-flight maneuverability and endurance. By tethering a camera equipped vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) UAV to the ground to provide power, the UAV can hover for unlimited periods of time in low to moderately windy conditions at a fixed point and relay video data. These “high view” videos taken from up to 100 feet above the ground provide valuable visual data for a large area around the tether site. While the tethered UAV can hover indefinitely, it would have very limited ability to maneuver. The tradeoff produces a system designed to do station keeping at altitude only, but for an unlimited period of time.
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Unconventional Concepts, Inc.
Other
2016