Triggering Lightning and Safely Guiding It Using a Drone
1 min read
Summary
Japanese scientists have successfully tested a prototype drone that can dissipate lightning strikes and continue flying.
The metal cage around the drone provided a short path to the ground for the discharge, thus protecting the drone’s electronics.
Although the protective cage partially melted when the drone was hit by a real thunderstorm, the current it survived (five times stronger than natural lightning) suggests the concept could be effective in diverting lightning strikes away from buildings and infrastructure.
The team at Nippon Telegraph and Telephone (NTT) believe the technology could be refined to not only protect cities but also capture the lightning’s energy for subsequent use.
