CyPhy Works Parc hexrotor can stay aloft as long as its services are needed, monitoring its surroundings 24-7 with a gyro-stabilized high-definition camera until its humans owners decide it’s time for a break.
Parc gets its juice from a micro-filament that also carries data back to the ground. The fact that communications between ground control and a Parc “can’t be intercepted, jammed, or spoofed” is a major plus in terms of security. There’s a trade-off, obviously. While the micro-filament allows a Parc drone to continuously provide surveillance services, it’s only able to operate in a limited area. They’ve got plenty of vertical range, though: up to 500 feet, which still allows a single tethered drone to cover a very large area.
Parc drones can carry extra communications equipment, too, and CyPhy’s notes also say that the camera can be removed in the event that an “additional payload” is needed. That could open the door for things like spotlights or even countermeasures like pepper spray and tasers.
So, what happens if the micro-filament gets cut somehow? The Parc drone doesn’t just come crashing back to the ground. It’s got an emergency back-up battery on board that allows it to return safely to the ground in case its tether becomes severed.
Source: Mobile Geek
What’s the longest its stayed airborne? And for what reason was it brought down?