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Post by jeff on Apr 8, 2016 10:20:03 GMT
After Kat was talking about drones for parcel delivery, I started thinking and looking. For practical purposes, the V-22B Osprey might be the way to go, for RC/Drone deliveries. For one, it has a massive cargo bay, then there's the VTOL to consider, and the compact stowed position, so the wings are rotated parallel to the body and the propellor blades fold, as well. Another concept might be the amphibious cargo plane from the game "Grand Theft Auto-5"...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 11, 2016 2:22:11 GMT
I don't think anything that complicated is needed for mail and small parcels. I was thinking of something more conventional, like a stretched C130 or B29 airframe shape, with pusher props, with a port to drop gliders out of. All the aircraft can land in nets, small hooks on the wings. Pickup can be via tethered balloons, it's been done with cargo and humans before. Launching the loaded mother drone can be done in a very small space, with a powered launch rail. Water landings can be handled by boat.
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Post by johngalt on May 13, 2016 3:21:25 GMT
Just a suggestion, but a boat can be a drone too. I imagine that you could be better off on the (fuel/weight you can carry) ratio at a sacrifice in speed. If you are doing the building yourself, actuating the steering on an outboard shouldn't be that complicated and even simpler if it has a wheel. I'd be willing to bet that there are off the shelf parts you could use to turn any boat into a drone.
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Post by jeff on May 13, 2016 3:41:07 GMT
Actually, my idea is based on the availability of several flying rc models, so not necessarily as impractical, however, my premise was for routine, lighter packages and mail. Even adding eggs to air-delivery would be preferable to beating them on the waves.
With aircraft, heavier mass increases structure, power and fuel demands exponentially.
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Post by Deleted on May 13, 2016 3:57:23 GMT
It's really going to depend on package size, weight, how many sites need a delivery in one run, the distance, and the weather. I wouldn't discount any of the model rc aircraft just yet, from 3ft wingspan to 20ft wingspan. Or the various helicopters. Or combinations.
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Post by johngalt on May 13, 2016 4:07:19 GMT
Agreed, eggs would not be a good idea on a small boat. You'll run into weather problems with both though, so expecting the mail everyday might not be realistic, but a drone would go a long way to getting it more regularly.
As far as an amphibious landing with a drone, a small cooler will float and so would any just about drone carrying one.
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Post by jeff on May 13, 2016 4:38:36 GMT
Not finding the one that inspired this thread. Guess I didn't bookmark it, but the motors were in wing pods and only the motors and props tilted. However, here's a quad tilt-rotor that could be scaled up, and w/fiberglass, sturdy enough to make feasible...
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Post by jeff on May 13, 2016 5:03:11 GMT
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