The present disclosure relates to an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) able to harvest energy from updrafts and a method of operating an unmanned aerial vehicle. An unmanned aerial vehicle with a gliding capability comprising: a generator (140) arranged to be driven by a rotor (190); and a battery (200), wherein: the unmanned aerial vehicle can operate in an energy harvesting mode in which the motion of the unmanned aerial vehicle drives the rotor (190) to rotate, the rotor (190) drives the generator (140), and the generator (140) charges the battery (200); and in the energy harvesting mode regenerative braking of the generator (140) reduces the forward speed of the unmanned aerial vehicle to generate electricity and prevent the unmanned aerial vehicle from flying above a predetermined altitude.


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    Title :

    An unmanned aerial vehicle harvesting energy in updraft


    Additional title:

    Ein unbemanntes Luftfahrzeug mit Energiewiedergewinnung in Aufwind
    Véhicule aérien sans pilote avec récupération d'énergie dans les courants d'air ascendant


    Contributors:

    Publication date :

    2016-08-17


    Type of media :

    Patent


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English


    Classification :

    IPC:    G05D SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES , Systeme zum Steuern oder Regeln nichtelektrischer veränderlicher Größen / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge



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