Existing low-altitude electric drones are constrained by battery life, limiting their range, endurance, and scope of use. High-altitude, solar-powered drones and satellites operate above the clouds, which can obscure observation data and cannot directly sense atmospheric gases and meteorology. Hydrocarbon powered long-endurance UAVs do not meet net-zero targets and their emissions make them unsuitable for some atmospheric sampling missions.
This is where Limosaero's solar-powered UAV rises to the challenge. It reportedly offers a cost-effective way to unlock up to six-day endurance flights by collecting solar energy during the day and storing it in a battery that is used to keep the UAV airborne through the night. The craft features mission uncertainty modelling algorithms to manage the challenge of variable weather impacting solar and UAV performance.
Read the full feature article in the MAG Online Library here.
