US-Spanish aerospace firm Skydweller Aero has completed several uncrewed flight tests of its “Skydweller” solar-powered drone, including one in which it flew continuously for 22.5 hours.
The Skydweller unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is designed to fly using only solar power and intended to perform missions lasting up to a week.
Constructed with ultra-lightweight carbon fiber, the UAV has a wingspan of 236 feet (72 meters) and weighs 5,620 pounds (2,550 kilograms).
The tests were conducted at Stennis International Airport in Kiln, Mississippi, and funded by the US government and are a major step in the UAV’s development.
President of Skydweller Aero Barry Matsumori said that the company is “demonstrating the feasibility of perpetual flight by leveraging the trillions of dollars in global research and development invested in solar energy and battery storage.”
Skydwellers could be used for multiple missions, including patrolling airspace, monitoring naval activity, detecting drug smugglers, and tracking wildlife migration.
With light features and powered only with sun energy, this vehicle could significantly reduce operational costs and environmental impacts, representing a zero-emission alternative to traditional aircraft.
