This Drone Can Fly for 24 Hours Straight!

In this episode, the Roswell Flight Test Crew speaks with Christopher McCall of Perspective Robotics AG, a start-up based in Zurich, Switzerland that is developing the “Fotokite.” There are two versions of this tethered multirotor drone capable of carrying a GoPro Hero sports camera. The professional version incorporates a two-axis gimbal and is capable of staying aloft indefinitely using an A/C power source. The recreational version, called Phi, uses a standard lithium-polymer battery and has a fixed camera mount, and can fly for approximately 15 minutes. The flight control system on both versions of the Fotokite is optimized to accept tether pulls as a control input and respond appropriately. The professional version also includes a ground station with a real-time video downlink and the ability to re-position the drone and the camera gimbal.