NTT creates a drone that triggers and catches lightning – then keeps flying

Japanese tech conglomerate NTT has created a drone that triggers lightning, is then struck by a heavenly bolt it instigated, and survives the experience – all in the name of preventing damage from natural lightning. As described in a recent announcement, NTT flew a test drone in December 2024 and January 2025 and created what …

[Anonymous Coward]

EMP

This drone sounds like it could withstand an EMP attack.

Maybe the lightening could end up to be just a side business?

[Anonymous Coward]

Why?

Why is this better than a properly installed lightening rod....? You still need a proper earthed connection (a buried big copper spike) at ground level, otherwise the lightening hasn't got anywhere to go. If you've got a permanent piece of infrastructure or a building, you may as well put in a proper lightening rod, it will be a *lot* cheaper than keeping drones like this on standby for thunderstorms.

The only real purpose for drones like this that I can think of is providing protection for crowds in big open spaces. e.g. music festivals.

[breakfast]

Re: Why?

Yes but you have to admit it's a flash tech demo.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Why?

You were so close to getting an upvote from me, but I just can't overlook the repeated use of "lightening" (so lighten something, make lighter) when you really meant "lightning" (sky spark)

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Why?

These could be used as cover for temporary infrastructure. I'm thinking of things like emergency disaster relief efforts where tents are used for hospitals. Maybe even temporary cover while real lightning rods are fitted to permanent buildings.

[Andy Non]

Re: Why?

"crowds in big open spaces. e.g. music festivals"

If they still exist, be great for a gig with the ELO (Electric Light Orchestra)

[teknopaul]

Re: Why?

It's portable and goes 300 m up.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Why?

I suspect it would work reasonably well even without the proper earth, just dragging the cable along the ground. 300m of air is definitely a less-preferred electrical path than 300m of copper cable.

Makes me wonder who would first use it as a weapon. Drag the cable onto your target and wait...

[Paul Herber]

'... a current that flowed through the wire and peaked at over 2,000 volts. ...;

Watt are we to think about this abuse of units? How many Welsh swimming pools is this?

More power to their elbow.

[Anonymous Coward]

>That arrangement created a current that flowed through the wire and peaked at over 2,000 volts.

The register is pleased to announce that Simon Sharwood has been shoulder tapped by the Trump administration to reform MIT's electrical engineering curriculum, with a special focus on replacing units named after dead Europeans with a system of Liberty units named after the hero of the Trump administration.

[Paul Herber]

Sharwoods. Mmmm, mango chutney.

[Ken Shabby]

What could the “Donald” be a measure of? Asking for a friend.

[Peter Prof Fox]

Bolt from Heaven

Surely all you have to do is give all tall buildings some religious purpose. God wouldn't strike one of her own places of worship would she?

[Paul Herber]

Re: Bolt from Heaven

You have obviously Thort about this.

[Eclectic Man]

Re: Bolt from Heaven

On the contrary, https://yorkminster.org/fire/

"In the early hours of Monday 9 July 1984, York Minster was struck by lightning and suffered one of the worst cathedral fires of modern times. The damage done in just a few hours took over four years to be rebuilt and restored."

[Throatwarbler Mangrove]

Re: Bolt from Heaven

"They know what they did."

--God

[David 132]

Re: Bolt from Heaven

"A good smiting every now and then is good for the moral fibre."

[ArguablyShrugs]

Re: Bolt from Heaven

"Damn, I missed again"

[Pete 2]

Good to go, again

> triggers lightning, is then struck by a heavenly bolt it instigated, and survives the experience

Any chance of using the energy as a form of in-flight refueling

[Paul Herber]

Re: Good to go, again

I'm sure the idea has some potential.

[Paul Crawford]

Re: Good to go, again

There may be some resistance to that suggestion.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Good to go, again

Ohm y God that is so funny...

[Paul Crawford]

Re: Good to go, again

I'm glad you have the capacity to laugh. Some have too much reluctance.

[David 132]

Re: Good to go, again

Attaching one to your Delorean would be a good idea - 1.21 jigglywatts* worth!

*yes, I know

[Vulch]

Thunder*storm*?

Strikes me that lightning is often associated with high winds and heavy rain. How well is a dtrone going to be able to cope with those?

[HMcG]

Re: Thunder*storm*?

Hardly even worth calling it a thunderstorm if it doesn’t involve hailstones the size of golfballs.

[Eclectic Man]

Captain Shakespeare

Reminds me of Captain Shakespeare from the movie 'Stardust', who piloted an airship collecting lightning and selling it. One of Robert de Niro's few characters I might not mind actually meeting IRL. (I'll avoid his characters from 'Goodfellas', 'Mean Streets', 'Raging Bull', 'The Godfather II', 'Taxi Driver', if I may.)

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0486655/characters/nm0000134

[David 132]

Re: Captain Shakespeare

> One of Robert de Niro's few characters I might not mind actually meeting IRL

In which of the, um, “costumes” that he wore in that film?

[teknopaul]

Re: Captain Shakespeare

Just read the book, never knew they made a film. I imagine one of the last they will make of Niel Gaiman's works.

[Long John Silver]

It's been done before

This story reminds one of the foolhardy/brave American chap who flew a kite near thunderclouds. The next calendar year, a guy in St Petersburg, attempting to replicate the experiment, met an untimely death.

[Gene Cash]

Re: It's been done before

Google says Franklin did the kite experiment in 1752.

It says he suggested daylight saving time in 1784.

Ergo, if we'd been lucky that he'd been zapped by lightning, we wouldn't have to put up with DST.

[Oh Homer]

Disappointed

Where's the sharks and lasers?