Boeing patents 'never-landing' drones

According to reports, the US Patent and Trademark Office approved an application from Boeing for an autonomous drone that can be recharged without landing last week.

According to the patent, the system involves battery-powered dirigibles or drones that can deploy a retractable tether. The tether will be able to connect to a power source as the craft hovers. When fully charged, the drone will automatically fly off to complete its programmed task while another drone will fly in and take its place at the charging point.

Sources say the patent — which was filed in March of 2013 and approved this week – is a reasonable concept for an efficient and effective way to manage and charge a fleet of drones.

Since the drones can theoretically fly forever without landing, the system forgoes the need for landing and storage space.