The Sky’s the Limit with the Babushka Drone

Chris Kelley
7 min readJan 8, 2023

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Introducing the latest innovation in drone technology: the Babushka Drone! These ingenious flying machines have the unique ability to nest inside of each other, forming a drone swarm of endless possibilities. Imagine a sky full of drones, each one able to fly solo or rejoin forces with its companions to perform complex tasks.

These Babushka Drones are like the Russian dolls of the sky and are sure to be a hit with tech and drone enthusiasts alike. Get ready to join the drone revolution with these nesting wonders!

Babushka Dolls

Today, I’m looking ahead in a series of posts that pull fiction-based ideas from the novel, The Last Delivery Driver.

I’m considering a technology that may soon become a reality. With robotics and artificial intelligence advancements, it’s not hard to imagine a future where drones can assist with tasks beyond package delivery. It’s one of the innovative ideas behind the evolution of drones into a new branch of drones called–babushka drones.

Radio Ad from the future:

Attention drone enthusiasts! Are you tired of limited battery life, range, and payload capacity holding you back? Introducing the Babushka Drone — the ultimate solution to your drone woes.

These innovative flying machines have the unique ability to nest inside of each other, giving you endless possibilities for tasks big and small. With the Babushka Drone, you’ll be able to fly for longer periods of time, cover a wider range, and carry heavier payloads.

And when you’re done, simply nest the drones together for easy storage and transport. Don’t let limited battery life, range, and payload capacity hold you back any longer. Try the Babushka Drone today and see the difference for yourself.

Chaining Further Away From The Operator

With their ability to work without harm to human operators, babushka drones may appear like the ultimate tool for nefarious purposes, like spying on individuals or delivering harmful weapons. But as we consider the ethical implications of using drones to perform tasks typically carried out by humans, we must also remember the potential benefits they bring — like the ability for delivery companies to make precise, timely deliveries in difficult-to-reach areas, or for search and rescue operations to access hard-to-reach areas in emergencies.

As we weigh the pros and cons of using these nested drones for tasks typically carried out by humans, we must consider the moral implications of their use, such as the potential for eavesdropping or the delivery of harmful weapons. But we must also recognize the potential benefits they offer.

The Limitations and Prospects of Drones

There are several limitations to consider when it comes to drones to consider:

Battery life: Most drones have limited battery life, meaning they can only fly for a certain amount of time before recharging. This can be a problem for tasks that require the drone to be in the air for an extended period.

Range: Most drones have a limited range, which means they can only fly a certain distance from the operator before they lose signal or run out of power. This can be a problem for tasks that require the drone to cover a large area or fly long distances.

Payload capacity: Most drones have limited payload capacity, which means they can only carry a certain amount of weight. This can be a problem for tasks that require the drone to carry heavy equipment or payloads.

Weather conditions: Drones are generally unsuitable for flying in extreme weather conditions, such as high winds, heavy rain, or snow. This can be a problem for tasks that require the drone to operate in these conditions.

· Legal restrictions: There are many legal restrictions on drone use, including rules about where drones can fly and what they can be used for. These restrictions can vary by country, region, and local jurisdiction, and drone operators must be aware of and follow these rules.

With Babushka drones, you could see better performance by ‘chaining’ drones. Larger drones, specialized in transporting smaller drones, could be long-distance travelers. Then, they become communication hubs, extending the range of smaller drones.

As technology advances and regulations play out. It’s curious to think of how big ‘chaining’ could go. Could you have rechargeable host drones capable of flying thousands of miles without returning to a dock? Could the most miniature drones of a chain be nano-sized? How stealthy could drones get as new hardware makes its way to the drone industry?

One thing does seem inevitable. We are seeing fewer human operators in the line of fire. From Afghanistan to Ukraine, drones are being used in more significant numbers removing soldiers from the front lines. How far removed will the operator go?

Someone who knows a few things about evolving technology, Elon Musk, has been known to jump in on the topic of drone warfare.

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1611151006167097344?s=20&t=VoOJq-yFdsI_oaT3mJBFlA

How This Plays Out in The Last Delivery Driver

In the first chapter of LDD: Broken Fences (Episode 1), we are introduced to two men, Jay and Rusty, who are on a mission together in the disputed territory between the United States and the Bear Republic. In 2029, they are driving in an autonomously driven truck and pretending to be forestry technicians with the American Forest Service. The area they are in is closed to tourists and outsiders due to an ongoing border dispute between the two countries. The Bear Republic is a federation of western states that seceded from the United States, and the two sides have been fighting a war using drones. However, a cease-fire was called in the winter, and negotiations are currently underway for the remaining disputed territory and assets of the United States.

Meanwhile, secretly, the head of the entire mission — Jack Kirby — the man who hired Rodolfo Lopez to bring in his best drone pilot, is monitoring the mission from a remote underground compound deep in the West Texas desert with his right-hand man, Robert “Pepito” Gonzalez, and four other people. Kirby and his team use different surveillance equipment to watch every move Jay and Rusty make to ensure their drone reaches its destination.

Kirby’s team has a camera and audio feeds in the truck, on the path, and in the goggles that Jay and Rusty are wearing.

Jay and Rusty continue their mission, hiking through the woods to reach their destination. They are physically tired and out of breath due to the high altitude. They reach a rocky overlook and set up their drone named “Babushka.” Rusty pilots the drone, which flies for about twenty minutes before landing on a tree branch. The second layer of the drone then unfolds and takes over the mission. Rusty explains that the first drone will stay put and act as a router while the others will bury themselves after completing the mission.

Babushka Drone, the size of a dragonfly

The second drone, called the “Mama Dragonfly,” flies for a few more yards before releasing the final drone, a small “fly drone,” which is designed to penetrate the wifi network undetected once it is in range.

Meanwhile, an alarm sounds at the target location — a ranch compound belonging to a man named Hermann Rusk — due to an irregular noise pattern. The security guards send two surveillance drones to check it out and notify Rusk. Back on the ridge, Jay and Rusty are preparing to release the fly drone when they are interrupted by the sound of the surveillance drones approaching.

The themes of drones continue throughout the book. In fact, the main character Adrian Kuldell is a talented drone pilot, but solely in the sporting sense. He plays collegiately and is recruited to join war-focused drone academies. Will the pull to join be too strong? Will he cave in and use his skills for militaristic purposes? I guess we’ll need to follow along to find out.

As I sit here, staring up at the bright blue, empty sky, I can’t help but think about the potential of these Babushka Drones. They’re like a futuristic vision that has yet to come to life. Imagining a swarm of robotic Russian dolls flying through the sky, capable of performing tasks that will seem like science fiction, makes me think it’s worthwhile to keep an eye on drone technology.

But as with any new technology, there will always be those who try to use it for their own twisted purposes. The thought of some shadowy government agency using a swarm of these drones to spy on its citizens is enough to give me the heebie-jeebies.

So as we embrace this new era of drone technology, we must be vigilant and ensure that these machines are used for the greater good. Because let’s face it, the sky’s the limit with the Babushka Drone, and we can’t let it fall into the wrong hands.

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Chris Kelley
Chris Kelley

Written by Chris Kelley

Looking Ahead Newsletter– Exploring the frontier of tomorrow with the experts of today. Author of The Last Delivery Driver. A near-future sci-fi novel.

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