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Autonomous solar aircraft

  • US 8,448,898 B1
  • Filed: 04/30/2012
  • Issued: 05/28/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An unmanned solar-powered aircraft, comprising:

  • a lightweight solar wing comprising an airfoil profile, a top surface, a bottom surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, wing tips, and at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the surfaces and edges follow a negative downward curvature bow shape across a span of the wing during flight, and wherein the wing weight to surface area ratio is less than 5 kg/m2;

    a fuselage, anda propeller, wherein the fuselage is placed below the solar wing and contains an electric motor, a battery, and electronics.

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