Solar-Powered Craft Pushing Boundaries Of Long-Duration Flight

Skydweller Aero recently completed a series of uncrewed autonomous test flights, the longest of which lasted 22 ½ hours and demonstrates the feasibility of remaining airborne for extended periods using solar energy and batteries.

The Skydweller is based on Solar Impulse, the first solar-powered aircraft to circumnavigate the Earth. Its robust design enables Skydweller to carry payloads of up to 800 pounds. The U.S. military, particularly the Navy, has expressed interest in the potential of Skydweller as a platform for persistent surveillance in a maritime patrol setting.

The aircraft’s long endurance shows great potential for numerous military roles in such settings, and some of Skydweller’s recent flight tests were conducted as part of a Joint Concept Technology Demonstration. That initiative is under the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering, and played a big part in the development of other autonomous platforms such as the Predator and Global Hawk.

The initiative is supported by a cooperative R&D agreement with the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. It is tasked with evaluating autonomous maritime patrol aircraft, and Skydweller’s capability for ultra-long-duration flight could significantly impact maritime patrol and surveillance operations.

Such capability holds the promise of being able to conduct continuous surveillance to enhance maritime border security, monitor illegal fishing, and interdiction of smuggling and drug trafficking. Round-the-clock coverage could also strongly bolster national security activities.

Beyond military applications, Skydweller offers a cost-effective means of providing airborne telecom solutions to remote and/or underserved areas. It could also be an important asset for environmental and scientific research, as well as providing crucial assistance such as communications, real-time assessments, and tracking for disaster response and humanitarian aid.

FMI:  www.skydweller.aero/