rancherman - 1/18/2016 19:29
Ron..NE ILL..10/48 - 1/13/2016 10:00
Good video & discussion!
If it's a 20+ mph wind, you can often hear your drone self-adjusting power to keep itself level. Power adjustments consume more power than "no change" power settings. Of course, with the computerized synchro controls necessary for quad copters, we don't know or control these power changes, but you can hear them when the drone's near by.
I too was always under the assumption that max battery was obtained at 'hover'.
After all, most manufacturers are saying their birds were 'tested' for 'x' amount of time @ hover. No doubt, they were in 'ground effect' too.
Playing the devil's advocate here, in our 20 mph 'cross wind' scenario, ^^^^^^, wouldn't the cross wind itself make 'lift' as well? should be the same as flying at 20 mph? (actual ground speed)
But on the other hand, DRAG against the airframe @ 20mph might overcome the 'lift' benefits.
I think there is a definite 'point of diminished returns' on flight speed, lift, and amps drawn. Depending on the bird, it may be just a couple mph, and some may be a little higher.
Good find OP!
VIDEO/Ground Effect, Transitional Movement, Vortex Ring State
