US-based SolAero Technologies has delivered the first solar wing for installation on Bye Aerospace's StratoAirNet solar-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
SolAero is also incorporating its solar cell technologies on the graphite composite of the StratoAirNet wing.
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Proprietary methods of SolAero will be used to maintain the critical laminar flow surface on the wing.
The wing-solar cell configuration will initially be able to deliver 2,000W of power under typical daylight conditions at altitude, enabling StratoAirNet to perform sustained flight.
The wing was manufactured as part of the engineering, development and production collaboration announced in January between Bye Aerospace and SolAero.
SolAero Technologies CEO Brad Clevenger said: “The combination of our advanced high-efficiency solar-cell technologies and integration expertise with the wide range of capabilities of the StratoAirNet UAV family will help usher in a new era of middle and high-altitude commercial and defence atmospheric satellite applications.”
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By GlobalDataPart of Bye Aerospace’s StratoAirNet family of atmospheric satellites, the StratoAirNet UAV will be able to support a variety of commercial and government security missions.
Bye Aerospace is currently developing an initial medium-altitude StratoAirNet 15 proof-of-concept prototype of the UAV.
Final assembly and integration of the wings and power systems of the prototype are set to begin in November.
With a 15m wingspan, the solar-powered vehicle is expected to undergo ground and flight tests at Bye Aerospace’s new facility at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport near Loveland and Ft Collins, Colorado, US.
When completed, the StratoAirNet atmospheric satellite can be used in various commercial applications such as communications relay, internet service, mapping, search-and-rescue among others.
