US Navy spends millions to develop a solar-powered UAV
Satsuki Then - Aug 10, 2021, 7:23am CDT
Most branches of the United States military operate drones in one capacity or another. Some drones are used for short-term surveillance while others loiter over a target site for extended durations keeping an eye on the ground from above. The United States Navy is looking for an uncrewed air vehicle with a much longer duration than what’s currently possible.
To achieve its desired long-range, the Navy has awarded a company called Skydweller $5 million to construct a long-endurance UAV powered by solar energy. So far, Skydweller Aero has offered no comment on the objectives for demonstrator aircraft but has confirmed it’s working with the Navy to develop key performance parameters.
Skydweller says that its aircraft could stay aloft for between 30 and 90 days. How long it can maintain flight will depend on the latitude of the mission, which determines the intensity of sunlight and how much power can be generated by the solar panels on top of its wings. The aircraft currently lacks an official name, but it first flew in December 2020. Since that date, Skydweller has conducted multiple test flights moving towards full autonomous flight.
https://www.slashgear.com/us-navy-spends-millions-to-develop-a-solar-powered-uav-10685957/
