Successful Test Flight of Dutch Solar-Powered Drone
The first Dutch solar drone manufactured
by Avy, performed a successful test flight at
the end of this summer. The drone is equipped with custom solar foil developed
by Wattlab to reflect and absorb more sunlight.
The solar-powered prototype is designed
to be used for urgent medical transport, support emergency services and nature
conservation initiatives. The successful test flight marks a milestone for the
co-operating technology companies bringing long-haul flights one step closer to
being emission-free. The findings will be incorporated into future Avy models.
“Our goal at Avy is to accelerate the
transition towards sustainable aviation,” said Patrique Zaman, founder of Avy.
“By integrating solar cells into our wings, we make use of the cleanest energy
available. The Avy drone has wings and is able to transport life-saving
medicines by air in Europe and Africa, as well as support first aid services in
Europe. Our test flight in September with the solar prototype, showed promising
results and was a first step towards a longer flight time.”
Test results
The gain was found in the wings, while
maintaining aerodynamics and without increasing the weight. This offers
potential for the future. A lower wing weight, a larger wing area and more
solar cells on the wings are all within reach. Solar cells with a higher
efficiency will be tested in the coming months. Since Avy is used for medical
projects in Africa where the sun holds infinite potential, a solar drone can
travel longer distances bringing wider deployability opportunities to reach
more people.
Sjekk video her: https://tinyurl.com/y2539p4o
Extended autonomous flight on solar energy
Just like previous Avy drones, the solar drone flies electrically, emission-free, fully autonomous and can take off and land vertically, also known as VTOL. The big difference with the previously developed fixed-wing drone is that the solar drone is charged by solar energy. For this technique Avy has collaborated with solar energy specialist Wattlab, who developed a strong but lightweight ‘solar skin’ that was used as the outer layer of the fibreglass wings. This way the drone generates extra energy while flying.
A step towards more sustainable transport
“The solar technology developed in this project is fully integrated into the wing shape and does not add any extra weight,” explains Bo Salet, founder of Wattlab. “The technology of the drone can serve as a stepping stone towards more sustainable developments in the aviation and transport sectors.”
The two technology companies will continue to collaborate for the foreseeable future to optimise the technology.
Source: Press Release
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