NASA photo by Carla Thomas
I previously relayed information about Aerobot. NASA now has UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) that autonomously can detect and soar on thermals according to a report from robots.net.
NASA engineers working at Dryden Flight Research Center have succeeded in extending the range of small UAVs. The aeronautical engineers claim that they can extend flight time by 60 minutes.
The electric model aircraft flew over a predetermined track until it detected an updraft. Once the aircraft started to rise on the current, the engine automatically shut off and the aircraft circled to stay within the convective lift resulting from the thermal or updraft.
Such programming could find use with military UAVs, extending their range and usefulness.
