Spy Planes To Recharge By Clinging To Power Lines

New Scientist ^ | 12-18-2007 | Paul Marks

[blam]

Spy planes to recharge by clinging to power lines

11:08 18 December 2007
NewScientist.com news service
Paul Marks

The next time you see something flapping in the breeze on an overhead power line, squint a little harder. It may not be a plastic bag or the remnants of a party balloon, but a tiny spy plane stealing power from the line to recharge its batteries.

The idea comes from the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) in Dayton, Ohio, US, which wants to operate extended surveillance missions using remote-controlled planes with a wingspan of about a metre, but has been struggling to find a way to refuel to extend the plane's limited flight duration.

So the AFRL is developing an electric motor-powered micro air vehicle (MAV) that can "harvest" energy when needed by attaching itself to a power line. It could even temporarily change its shape to look more like innocuous piece of trash hanging from the cable.

Hanging about

AFRL's initial aim is to work out how to make a MAV flying at 74 kilometres per hour latch onto a power line without destroying itself or the line.

[Hawk1976]

Better yet, no use authorized iun this country. If the government is honest, it doesn’t need it.

[Hawk1976]

Better yet, no use authorized in this country. If the government is honest, it doesn’t need it.

[TheBlueMax]

Not necessarily. I believe the government is conducting drone operations within the U.S. in the border regions, and not solely on the Mexican side. Spy drones have caught smugglers and illegals (also terrorists) with these platforms, and doesn’t violate Posse Comitatus.

[BGHater]

Yes, but monitoring the border of our security is ‘fed’ job.

Normal, every day police and LEO work is state and local activity and using the military for such actions like that is against the Posse Act.

[Calvin Locke]

I’d be more impressed if they could get a drone to recharge from radio waves...

[Nowhere Man]

Reminds me of stories where there were UFO’s who used our power lines to recharge, presumably alien spaceships.

[Nowhere Man]

Back in 1958 when transistor radios first came out I learned that you could put it next to the power line going to the meter at our house and the volume would increase.

It could also be the power line acting as an antenna as well, sort of like how the "Select-A-Tenna" works through induction. Still, I think I'll take my 1965 "Maggie" (Magnavox) 8 transistor radio and try it.

[Bob]

I’d be more impressed if they could get a drone to recharge from radio waves...

That would be impressive but I don't think the RF field strength available would allow capturing very much power (unless they circled around a transmitting antenna).

'Perching' the device directly on a power line permits the use of close inductive coupling which allows a lot more power to be collected in much less time.

[spunkets]

The law you posted was repealed and replaced with.

50USC32:1520a. Restrictions on use of human subjects for testing of chemical or biological agents

(a) Prohibited activities
The Secretary of Defense may not conduct (directly or by contract)—
(1) any test or experiment involving the use of a chemical agent or biological agent on a civilian population; or
(2) any other testing of a chemical agent or biological agent on human subjects.
(b) Exceptions
Subject to subsections (c), (d), and (e) of this section, the prohibition in subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a test or experiment carried out for any of the following purposes:
(1) Any peaceful purpose that is related to a medical, therapeutic, pharmaceutical, agricultural, industrial, or research activity.
(2) Any purpose that is directly related to protection against toxic chemicals or biological weapons and agents.
(3) Any law enforcement purpose, including any purpose related to riot control.
(c) Informed consent required
The Secretary of Defense may conduct a test or experiment described in subsection (b) of this section only if informed consent to the testing was obtained from each human subject in advance of the testing on that subject.
(d) Prior notice to Congress
Not later than 30 days after the date of final approval within the Department of Defense of plans for any experiment or study to be conducted by the Department of Defense (whether directly or under contract) involving the use of human subjects for the testing of a chemical agent or a biological agent, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives a report setting forth a full accounting of those plans, and the experiment or study may then be conducted only after the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date such report is received by those committees.
(e) “Biological agent” defined
In this section, the term “biological agent” means any micro-organism (including bacteria, viruses, fungi, rickettsiac, or protozoa), pathogen, or infectious substance, and any naturally occurring, bioengineered, or synthesized component of any such micro-organism, pathogen, or infectious substance, whatever its origin or method of production, that is capable of causing—
(1) death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism;
(2) deterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or materials of any kind; or
(3) deleterious alteration of the environment.

[MediaMole]

I’ve wondered if there would be a way to use a technology like this to put power in roadways for electric cars. Sort of like a trolley’s third rail, but without the sparking or electrocution risk.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"Excellent, another step foreward"

[taxed2death]

Thanks for the update....I guess common sense prevailed in this case.

[Calvin Locke]

Oh, come on. You can get a neon bulb to light up from a long wire antenna.

And the MythBusters bought a kit that could use RF to power, um, an LCD watch.

[Bob]

I’ve wondered if there would be a way to use a technology like this to put power in roadways for electric cars. Sort of like a trolley’s third rail, but without the sparking or electrocution risk.

Theoretically, I'm fairly sure that it's possible. On the other hand, I think we'll probably need some advances in technology to make it practical (i.e. cheap enough to be commercially viable).

[Farmer Dean]

I was thinking maybe #4 shot,the electronics might be in a metal enclosure.

[spunkets]

Yes that law that legalized using citizens as guinea pigs, was installed by a democrat Congress and was repealed by a Republican Congress following the contract with America in ‘97.

[Bob]

Oh, come on. You can get a neon bulb to light up from a long wire antenna.

And the MythBusters bought a kit that could use RF to power, um, an LCD watch.

Not sure if you're funnin' me or not so just in case you're not:

I don't doubt that you can do both of those things but the power involved is miniscule compared to what's needed to keep a three-foot-wingspan spy device flying (and transmitting information back).

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Let me know if it works!

[Secret Agent Man]

I wouldn’t use a shotgun, you’ll take out your own power line. A good rifle with a scope on it will do.