There is already flare electronic replacements for road safety in use

However I haven't seen a similar product for flare guns.

So I proposed a electronic flair shaped like a rocket with a helicopter rotor on top.

It is powered for a while, and can be held in once place by fishwire spools. Once its out of power, it will autogyate back to the ground, ready to charge again.
-- mofosyne, Feb 11 2011

Also handy to shoot triplines across paths and sidewalks for hours of prankster enjoyment!
-- RayfordSteele, Feb 11 2011


We read this as "Hell flares" which could have been any of extremely bright red-coloured pyrotechnic illuminators (widely known to exist), or extremely uncomfortable bell-bottomed trousers.

We will award a bun anyway for the possibilities opened up by [Rayford]'s anno, and the adittional amusement that could be obtained by interaction with high-tension transmission lines.

We think it will work better with a Xenon strobe in the "copter" and the power source on the ground, tethered by very fine wires. The power source could be a hand-cranked generator for remote and uncivilised locations, like wales.
-- 8th of 7, Feb 11 2011


interesting, but how will you prevent power loss thought the thin power cable to the copter?
-- mofosyne, Feb 12 2011


If I'm in need of a flare gun, it's probably an indication that some piece of technology has failed to live up to expectations.

Under those circumstances, I really really want a flare gun to be as simple as possible.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 12 2011


max: the same with normal flares, it doesn't always have to be for survival. Police use it to mark off areas around a stopped police car to prevent additional cars from smashing it. They have begun to use electronic flares because of the environmental impact of normal flares.
-- mofosyne, Feb 12 2011


// how will you prevent power loss //

Easy. The ground power source - if hand-cranked - produces medium voltage AC. It is fed into a transformer, converting it into high voltage, low current. Thus the resistive losses in the cable are minimised.

The wires are insulated with PU lacquer which has a very high breakdown voltage.
-- 8th of 7, Feb 12 2011



random, halfbakery