A 5 km spool of 50 micrometer fiber weighs approximately 1 kg - but that’s a telecom spool. Drone operators use lighter spools and some use 25 micrometer fibers.
Air resistance is considerable, though. Think of a drone carrying a small bucket. And you cannot zigzag under trees - but that’s a rare thing to do even with radio control.
Glad to hear that Ukrainians have some fiber system in widespread use. Some projects to assist them are still stuck behind technical obstacles. I think their technicians put in more working hours, and had less formalities that slow down testing.
You wouldn’t want to. Lives could depend on the next drone’s mission, why risk losing it from a kink in the fiber? Also, the time putting it back on reels is better spent elsewhere. Fiber is very, very, very cheap compared to all other expenses in war. You don’t collect brass to re-load ammo on the battlefield either.
But wouldn’t fiber optic cable over long distance add so much weight as to impede flight or carrying munitions? Is it shockingly lightweight?
A 5 km spool of 50 micrometer fiber weighs approximately 1 kg - but that’s a telecom spool. Drone operators use lighter spools and some use 25 micrometer fibers.
Air resistance is considerable, though. Think of a drone carrying a small bucket. And you cannot zigzag under trees - but that’s a rare thing to do even with radio control.
Glad to hear that Ukrainians have some fiber system in widespread use. Some projects to assist them are still stuck behind technical obstacles. I think their technicians put in more working hours, and had less formalities that slow down testing.
Another benefit is that most of the fiber will be on the ground as you get closer to the target. Your drone will get lighter as it flies.
Could you reel it back in after the drone explodes for reuse?
You wouldn’t want to. Lives could depend on the next drone’s mission, why risk losing it from a kink in the fiber? Also, the time putting it back on reels is better spent elsewhere. Fiber is very, very, very cheap compared to all other expenses in war. You don’t collect brass to re-load ammo on the battlefield either.
That makes sense.
I’m going to bet they’re older spools for tow missiles.
Think fishing line. It’s so thin it weighs basically nothing.
Impressive. Thank for the info.
Any weight at all is going to effect the drones ability, but fiber optic cables are very very lightweight, being just a wrapped strand of glass.