Weighs only 4 grams: China has created an "eternal" mini-drone
Miniature drones are considered to be the technology of the future for research in extreme conditions and rescue operations in disaster zones. And a new miniature drone described in the scientific press promises a possible breakthrough in this area.
The device, called ColoumbFly, was built by scientists from China's Beihang University and the Center for Advanced Aircraft Engines. According to Science, they published a detailed article describing their development in the journal Nature.
In fact, this is the world's smallest flying robot powered by solar energy. It weighs only 4.1 grams and has a rotor diameter of 20 cm.
Unlike traditional miniature aircraft, which use an electrified magnet to drive their rotors, the CoulombFly engine is driven by the so-called Coulomb force, the one that occurs between electrically charged particles at rest. The solar cell installed on it generates electricity and creates an electric field between oppositely charged plates arranged in a circle. The opposing charges, like repulsive magnets, create enough force to rotate the rotor blades. This produces enough torque to lift the entire structure off the ground.
According to the authors of the invention, their device took off 1 second after its solar cell was exposed to sunlight. At the moment, it can fly autonomously in the air for 1 hour, while lifting off the surface by 15 cm.
During the test flight, ColoumbFly had to land due to a technical malfunction. At the same time, the developers claim that it can fly much longer without recharging.
According to the current state of the art, the Chinese design is capable of carrying miniature sensors or controls weighing about 2 grams. However, due to its light weight and carrying capacity, ColoumbFly does not yet have a control system. At this stage, only its flight height can be controlled, but not its direction. In addition, the mini-drone's batteries can only generate enough power to fly in sunny weather. On cloudy or humid days, it will not fly.
At the moment, such indicators do not seem significant, but the researchers hope to further improve the design of their drone, which will improve its endurance and payload. They expect that the device they have assembled can inspire a new generation of flying robots that can connect to Wi-Fi networks, send photos, and perform other remote monitoring tasks for long periods of time.
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