Flowcopter Hydraulic Drone
H/t: Gizmodo
The problem with most drones today is that they typically can fly for 1-hour maximum before needing to be recharged, but Flowcopter’s new multicopter aims to change that. Rather than electric motors, it’s powered by aviation-certified combustion engines using Digital Displacement pumps repurposed from the industrial applications to run hydraulic motors at the props. These are capable of distributing and regulating hydraulic flow between a number of different outputs, each producing 96 kW (129 hp) of power. Read more for a test video and additional information.



Sure, the Digital Displacement pump, engines and fuel system combined most certainly weighs more than an electric powertrain, but considering that this one can run for up to 6-hours over 560-miles on a single tank of gas, the tradeoffs are worth it. It won’t be able to just fly, as the payload capacity is 150 kg (330 lb), so you’ll be able to haul photography equipment for aerial shots.

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Flowcopter Hydraulic Drone

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