Introducing Skydweller: A solar-powered aircraft with a non-stop flight duration of 90 days, boasting a width smaller than that of a Boeing 747 but a staggering 160 times lighter.
In a groundbreaking development, US tech startup Skydweller Aero and French electronics giant Thales have joined forces to create an innovative solar-powered maritime surveillance drone. The Skydweller drone, with its ultra-long endurance, advanced autonomous features, and cutting-edge surveillance technology, is set to revolutionise maritime monitoring.
The Skydweller drone boasts an impressive capacity to fly continuously for up to 90 days without landing, powered entirely by solar energy harvested from over 17,000 solar cells spread across a massive 236-foot wingspan – 25 feet longer than a Boeing 747. Under ideal conditions, these cells can generate up to 100 kilowatts, charging 1,400 pounds of onboard batteries to enable night flight.
To ensure continuous operation, the drone incorporates a quadruple-redundant flight control system and a self-healing vehicle management system. The self-healing system can detect, isolate, and fix software issues mid-flight, ensuring reliable operation throughout multi-month missions. In the event of any system failure, a backup system takes over to maintain the flight.
The Skydweller drone is designed to cruise typically between 24,600 and 34,400 feet, capable of higher altitudes during the day to maximise solar efficiency, and lower altitudes at night to conserve power. It can operate non-stop up to around 40 degrees latitude north and south, as well as in polar regions during summer months. However, its reliance on solar power limits its use during polar winters.
In partnership with Thales, the drone will be equipped with the AirMaster S radar, which features artificial intelligence to autonomously adapt to flight conditions and optimise maritime target detection. This combination sets a new standard in ultra-persistent maritime surveillance with a payload capacity of up to 400 kg – significantly higher than other solar-powered aircraft.
This collaboration aims to provide a zero-carbon-footprint, near-continuous maritime monitoring solution ideal for military, civil emergency, and border control applications, dramatically extending surveillance reach over large oceanic areas with minimal environmental impact. The Skydweller drone, weighing just 2.5 metric tons at maximum capacity, despite its large wingspan, weighs 160 times less than a Boeing 747.
With further test flights planned to extend the maximum flight duration, the Skydweller drone is poised to redefine the boundaries of solar-powered aircraft, offering unprecedented endurance, advanced autonomy, and unparalleled maritime surveillance capabilities.
[1] Skydweller Aero. (2021). Skydweller Aero and Thales partner to develop solar-powered maritime surveillance drone. Retrieved from https://www.skydweller.aero/news/skydweller-aero-and-thales-partner-to-develop-solar-powered-maritime-surveillance-drone
[2] Skydweller Aero. (2021). Skydweller Aero Unveils Long-Endurance Solar-Powered Maritime Surveillance Drone. Retrieved from https://www.skydweller.aero/news/skydweller-aero-unveils-long-endurance-solar-powered-maritime-surveillance-drone
[3] Thales. (2021). Thales and Skydweller Aero partner to develop maritime surveillance drone. Retrieved from https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/press-releases/2021/thales-and-skydweller-aero-partner-to-develop-maritime-surveillance-drone
[4] Thales. (2021). Thales and Skydweller Aero to Develop Solar-Powered Maritime Surveillance Drone. Retrieved from https://www.thalesgroup.com/en/press-releases/2021/thales-and-skydweller-aero-to-develop-solar-powered-maritime-surveillance-drone
Data-and-cloud-computing technologies will likely be utilized for the efficient management of the vast amount of data generated by Skydweller Aero's innovative solar-powered maritime surveillance drone, contributing to its general news value. This collaboration between US tech startup Skydweller Aero and French electronics giant Thales is a testament to the increasing integration of technology in various sectors, including maritime monitoring.
