2000W Hybrid Drones May Provide Up To Seven Hour Flight Time And Up To 7KG Payload

Nicolai Valenti has written on his DIYDrones blog about their Hybrid drones. With our XClass Drones, we have learned how precious the time is. The need for a good power sources becomes scarce as the size, payload and the flight time increases.
So it is ideal to use Hybrid drones in an industrial setting. I was working with a Japanese client who is currently working in China supporting agricultural drones. These drones deliver fertilizer, pesticide to large orchards and even some are planting rice by delivering rice seeds to the paddies. The payloads are high and the drones make detours to refuel or exchange batteries, which could lead to missing one or more trees in the orchard.
The hybrid solution is ideal for these situations. Nicolai and the company are doing research in developing perfect hybrid drones but they do have a few models in the field with up to 7KG payload and up to 3.3 hour flight time. But of course these could vary due to the circumstances of the flight. If you think this will fit your needs, contact him, the contact information is at the bottom.

From his post;

The latest / last version of our 2000W drone is featuring the following specs:
Wheelbase: 800 mm
No payload weight: 9kg (no fuel)
Max take-off Weight: 16 kg
Max speed: 15m/s
Max flight time: 1 to 3.3 hours depending on payload and wind
Voltage: 44V
Generator output: 2000W
Generator weight: 3.6 kg
Fuel tank: 3L
Fuel consumption: 600g/kW/h
Noise: 60 db at 10 meters                                                                                       
Displacement: 30cc                             
Start system: generator pull start.
ALL the generator in-flight regulations are processed by the on board computer which regulates during all the flight the power production depending on the needs of the aircraft.
Additional information:
The generator use is very simple, charge your fuel tank with Gas-Oil mix at 30/1 ratio, plug the battery, pull the starter and fly!
The flight is very stable and any payload can be easily installed on the drone (if you have a payload particularly tough you can contact us and we will design the payload mount together)
No need to ever recharge the back-up batteries.

For more info https://sandwichaero.com/

or write to nicolai.valenti@gmail.com

BBC Drone Reports Accuracy and Balance Challenged By DJI

BBC aired two "informative" segments on drones and the public safety, “The Gatwick Drone Attack” that aired April 15, 2019, and more recently during Horizon’s “Britain’s Next Air Disaster? Drones,” aired July 1, 2019. Both were portraying drones in the negative light. BBC purports to be a public service broadcaster whose remit is to “inform, educate, and entertain.” Yet everyone involved in the industry believe that both these programs fell very short in informing the public in an impartial and accurate manner.
I used to respect BBC's investigative reports but it looks like due to budget cuts and or sensationalizing of hearsay rather than sticking to facts. DJI's letter tries to introduce facts in to the BBC.

DJI was approached by both the Panorama and Horizon production teams and provided plenty of input including an interview and in-depth background information. However, almost none of the material was included in either program. We have to assume this is because the BBC ultimately preferred to boost viewing figures by focusing on sensational, high-risk scenarios that are vanishingly rare or almost impossible, while ignoring evidence that drone technology is safe and that the drone industry itself has implemented various features to mitigate the risks described. This cannot be construed as balanced or impartial in anyone’s book.

Complete letter

Gatwick air attack