NAGOYA, Japan -- In disaster-prone Japan, earthquakes, landslides and other emergencies can cut off entire communities from power grids, sometimes for days. But one auto parts maker is looking to solve that problem with a drone that can double as a storage battery and generator.
During a test run on Wednesday, a loud buzz echoed through the mountains of Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, as a drone landed next to a local community center. Once situated, the device was able to power an electric kettle, a fan and a smartphone charger even after a roughly 2 km flight.
