Much better looking than the last tethered attempt, like the idea of a big coaxial pair in the centre to do the lifting. I knew a girl like that.
The HoverMast responds to the need for quick, mobile intelligence gathering. At the click of a button, the system autonomously deploys, rising to heights of up to 50 meters within 10-15 seconds. Secured by a cable, serving as a power supply and wideband data link, the highly stabilized HoverMast combines advanced flight algorithms and innovative materials to provide the highest payload-to-size ratio available today. Weighing only 10 kg, the platform is capable of hosting 9 kg payloads, such as electro-optic sensors, laser designators, radar, and sophisticated COMINT and ELINT systems. Its data link enables the transfer of critical data to selected recipients in real time.
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Dornier did a tethered co-axial with 40kg payload, electric powered via the tether, from a ground station/generator mounted in a six wheel all terrain vehicle back in the 70s. German Army didnt buy!.
50m of cable able to transfer 30AMP load for several days?
Even double AWG12 at 50m length is 4.5kg.
10kg+9kg payload means a sturdy industrial grade quadcopter able to lift 45% of its mass? Complete bullshit.
Real-life example: Microdrones MD1000 max payload 1200g AUW 5550g, 21.6% (basically it can only lift VAT).
You say you save somethign on battery weight? You loose all this by power transformer, attachment hooks, high durability motors working on durable yet very innefficient half load, ducted fan.
Consequently if this toy has to lift 1200g USEFUL payload plus 4500g cables, AUW should be 27kg.
No f. chance to lift it on 12AGW cables either so everything should be recalc and upscaled.
As a result this 'NEAT IDEA' (you little noobs out there without 1USD calculator and google) will be weighting significantly more than 30kg, the cable being a huge vertical antenna of all sorts of electrical noise.
All this to lift 1.2kg useful payload to altitude of 50m.
Hmmm, if the main thrust unit is a true "ducted" fan they may run into gust stability issues due to the under-slung load. The outer quad-rotor will react to the effect however it will be a reaction rather than minimizing the force in the first place (the C.G. should be just above the duct).
It will be interesting to see the functioning unit though
Having unlimited power is nice.
But that's a lot of obstacles in the downwash for the center blade--not so efficient...
50m. 10kg + 9kg payload. I don't want to be under it.
Patrick, the tensioning is actually sort of easy. I work in a wire factory, so I deal with this every day. Also used in paper production. You'll probably need an arduino, ESC and motor to make it work, but I can sketch out the idea if somebody wants.
What you want is a "dancer":
@Patrick I think a Cody kite is easier, you need the wind of course.
I thought about this to 'erect' a vertical full wave antenna for 160 meters with a 400V DC power feed.
The tether's weight and proper tensioning during ascent an descent are not trivial, though.
hahaha "I knew a girl like that"
That is a neat idea. It gets around the UAV regulation problem (or does it....?) since it's teethered. For sure it won't be going anywhere if the tether is broken. And many applications don't really require flying around anyway. Having the power source on the ground gives obvious payload advantages.