[athenot]

This is something I often thought about, for the purposes of tree pruning. What if you could point a laser-like LED beam to the location you want cut on a 55ft-high pine tree, and have the drone-chainsaw cut that exact location? That would beat using cranes or bucket lifts to hoist a person with their chainsaw way up in the air.

(Of course the ground would still have to be cleared of people, as a branch would be falling down and in case the chainsaw/drone combo malfunctions.)

[JoeAltmaier]

Around here, they have used helicopters for years to prune trees away from high-line power lines. That chainsaw is like 10 feet long and hangs straight down from between the skids. The pilot hovers and inches forward alongside the lines, and the tree limbs fly!

Its got to be the coolest job ever - helicopter chainsaw operator. I put it above even wrecking ball operator.

[danielvf]

Here's a video of the helicopter chainsaw

http://youtu.be/Mfz1YrpMbBg

[JoeAltmaier]

Wow very different. Mine had no cable or a very short one - the chainsaw was directly under the helicopter.

[parfe]

More like this? https://youtu.be/rF1vfMM3W08?t=133

[zo1]

They also used one of those in a James Bond movie. Goldeneye, I believe.

Edit. It was in The World is Not Enough, as someone else noted.

[cmdrfred]

Where do you put this then? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV8dk0XucNA

[JoeAltmaier]

Pretty cool! Still, you have to see the chainsaw in action. And landing it! That was amazing. Had to descend until the (inactive) chainsaw touched the ground. Then land the helicopter in a sort of arc, to lay the rigid chainsaw on the ground without tipping the helicopter nor dragging the blade along the ground. Artistry!