New Generation Solar Cell Empowers Autonomy For BVLOS UAV Operations | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.14.25

Airborne-NextGen-04.15.25

AirborneUnlimited-04.16.25

Airborne-AffordableFliers-04.17.25

SunnFun-DayFour-04.03.25

Thu, Sep 06, 2018

New Generation Solar Cell Empowers Autonomy For BVLOS UAV Operations

Technology Developed By Alta Devices Unveiled At InterDrone Conference In Las Vegas

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), or drones, are among the earliest autonomous vehicles – performing many functions without human intervention. The next challenge for UAVs is the coming adoption of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) regulations. The adoption of these rules liberates drones, but also places new demands on them; they need to be able to fly for extended periods and have the right instrumentation for many newly practical applications, such as precision agriculture, mapping, railroad inspection, and search and rescue. Therefore, these aircraft require sufficient power to enable long-distance flight.

The most likely form of power that will make this possible is solar power. However, these solar cells must be able to generate significant power from direct or indirect light, be lightweight, and, be able to integrate directly into the aircraft. Alta Devices new Gen4 solar technology uniquely meets these requirements.

The technology is being unveiled this week at InterDrone in Las Vegas. Lightweight, thin and flexible gallium-arsenide solar cells from Alta Devices enable designs that are not possible with other solar technologies.

Alta cells provide a new level of mechanical and design flexibility for the UAV industry due to their high power-density combined with the ability to bend around curved surfaces. Alta Devices is the world-record holder for single junction solar cell efficiency at 28.9%. The newest generation product from Alta demonstrates a significant weight reduction from the previous version resulting in an improved power to weight ratio.

(Image provided with Alta Devices news release)

FMI: www.altadevices.com

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.14.25): Chart Supplement U.S.

Chart Supplement U.S. A flight information publication designed for use with appropriate IFR or VFR charts which contains data on all airports, seaplane bases, and heliports open t>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (04.14.25)

Aero Linx: EUROCONTROL EUROCONTROL is a pan-European, civil-military organisation dedicated to supporting European aviation. Our expertise spans research, development, operations a>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.14.25)

“The pilot conducted a risk assessment of the flight; however, he omitted to include the carriage (transportation) of the penguin on-board... the cyclic pitch control lever a>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: Aviator Sean O’Donnell – A Love For Flight Has No Limits

From 2016 (YouTube Edition): What's Holding YOU Back From Your Dream Of Flight? While at the U.S. Sport Aviation Expo 2016, ANN CEO and Editor-In-Chief, Jim Campbell, shares a conv>[...]

Airborne 04.14.25: H2-Powered R44, Oshkosh Organized Chaos, UAL School Sued

Also: Spirit CEO Resigns, ‘Mental Health in Aviation’, U-2 Dragon Lady, Elixir Delivers Unither Bioelectronics announced that its modified Robinson R44 helicopter made >[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC