Israelis look to break solar UAV record
Technion researchers intend to exceed 190 kilometers of uninterrupted flight; control problems, however, continue to plague the industry
Academics and students looking for a place to conduct research related to the homeland security market should consider opportunities at Technion, the Israeli equivalent of MIT. In the past year, scientists at that august university have made great strides in missile defense, explosives detection, and UAV to UAV refueling systems. Now the school is poised for another success: a team of students is working on a solar-powered UAV that they hope will soon break a seventeen year old world aviation record. Unlike other UAVs, however, this one will not be confined strictly to surveillance and defense operations. It might also serve as a “semi-satellite” for communications networks, The Future of Things reported.
This is not the place to review the entire history of solar-powered aviation, but it is worth noting that it dates back as far as 1974, when a company called Astro Flight launched a drone, the Sunrise I , which sported a 32 foot wing span, a service ceiling of about 20,000 feet on a clear day, and 4480 solar cells to deliver over 600 watts. A few years later, Dupont sponsored the development of the Gossamer Penguin (later the Solar Challenger), which in July 1981 — taking advantage of 16,128 cells generating 2,600 watts — became the first to cross the English Channel. Later models funded by the American government, especially NASA’s Helios project, eventually achieved heights as high as 98,000 feet.
Like all UAVs, that one eventually crashed due to control problems,and the Technion team has had similar setbacks. Although the students do not intend to break NASA’s altitude record, they think it can make strides in distance, the current champion being a German scientist who in 1990 managed to send a solar-powered drone 190 kilometers. The SunSailor, which has received support from Israel Aircraft Industries has so far managed 25 kilometer flights, but has also experienced multiple crashes in the process. “The greatest obstacle is probably reliability,” said Professor Omri Rand. “We have noticed that these systems, being very light-weight and having many problems, starting from structure to control issues are our main concerns.”
