Autonomous solar aircraft
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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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for unmanned long endurance flights are provided herein. In some embodiments, a lightweight solar wing for unmanned aircraft may include at least one 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 an arched bow shape across a span of the wing. In some embodiments, an unmanned solar-powered aircraft may include at least one lightweight solar wing as described above, at least one fuselage, and at least one propeller, wherein the fuselage is placed below the solar wing and contains an electric motor, battery, and electronics.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An unmanned solar-powered aircraft, comprising:
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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, and a propeller, wherein the fuselage is placed below the solar wing and contains an electric motor, a battery, and electronics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification