Russian specialists have invented stationary "Ladon" towers for contactless charging of civilian drones' batteries, the NTI press service reported.
According to the project's author, Mikhail Klimchuk, such stations are needed due to the lack of ground infrastructure for charging drones in Russia. Operators have to return drones to their original point for recharging. This, in turn, hinders the development of unmanned cargo transportation.
It is specified that for recharging, the drone must hover at a certain distance from the tower. The charging process occurs through electromagnetic induction.
Klimchuk stated that special software needs to be developed to ensure the operation of the towers.
After being in the air above "Ladon" for 5 minutes, the drone can recharge for another 20 minutes of flight
He explained that drones will fly to the station, and its control system will recognize the type of drone and its charging needs.
Potential operators of such stations could be oil and gas companies; they will also be in demand in the agricultural and transport sectors. The charging stations are expected to be launched on the market in the next two years.
Earlier, Rostec began mass production of vandal-proof charging stations for electric transport.