Solar UAV Breaks World Record for Longest Unmanned Flight
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- from http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/2007/3rd_quarter/qinetiq_s_zephyr_uav.html
10 September 2007 - QinetiQ's Zephyr High Altitude Long Endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has exceeded the official world record time for
the longest duration unmanned flight with a 54 hour flight achieved during
trials at the US Military's White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. The flight
trials were funded through the Ministry of Defence (MOD) research programme.
The duration of the flight exceeded the current official FAI world
record for unmanned flight which stands at 30 hours 24 minutes set by Northrop
Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001. However because there was no FAI
official present at White Sands it may not stand as an official world record.
Launched by hand, Zephyr is an ultra-lightweight carbon-fibre aircraft
with a wingspan of up to 18 metres but weighing just 30 kg. By day it flies on
solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays no thicker than sheets of
paper that cover the aircraft’s wings. By night it is powered by rechargeable
lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power.
The trials validated recent modifications that have improved the
efficiency of Zephyr's power system. These have included new solar arrays
supplied by United Solar Ovonic, a full flight-set of Sion Power batteries as
well as a novel solar-charger and bespoke autopilot developed by QinetiQ, all of
which were being flown for the first time. During the trials the same aircraft
was flown twice while carrying a surveillance payload – first for 54 hours to a
maximum altitude of 58,355 feet, and then for 33 hours 43 minutes to a maximum
altitude of 52,247 feet.
Paul Davey, Zephyr business development
director at QinetiQ, said:
"
The possibilities suggested by unmanned flight are truly exciting and with
these trials Zephyr has secured its place in the history of UAV development.
Both flights were achieved in the face of thunderstorms and debilitating heat in
the hostile environment of the New Mexico high desert in the summertime. They
have proved that an autonomous UAV can be operated on solar-electric power for
the duration required to support persistent military operations."
Potential applications for Zephyr include earth observation and
communications relay in support of a range of defence, security and civil
requirements.
Zephyr has demonstrated consistent progress during a series of flight trials at White Sands Missile Range. In December 2005 two
aircraft achieved a maximum duration of 6 hours and an altitude above 26,000
feet. The maximum flight duration was trebled to 18 hours and the maximum
altitude increased to 36,000 feet at subsequent trials at the missile range in
July 2006.
- from http://www.greenprogress.com/transportation_article.php?id=1280& ref=rss
- from http://www.qinetiq.com/home/newsroom/2007/3rd_quarter/qinetiq_s_zephyr_uav.html
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QinetiQ reveals details of Zephyr UAV's record flight
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By Andrew White
13 September 2007
Zephyr, the UK Ministry of Defence's (MoD's) and QinetiQ's High Altitude Long
Endurance (HALE) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), has completed a record 54-hour
flight complete with a camera payload, as it bids to become the first system to
provide 'persistent' operational support to UK forces.
Conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in July, tests saw
the 30 kg UAV complete " two day and night cycles" at an altitude of 58,355 ft,
using its 18 m wingspan - coated with sheets of amorphous silicon arrays - to
generate solar power, QinetiQ revealed.
A second test saw Zephyr complete a 33-hour flight at an altitude of 52,000
ft. Tests proved a number of recent modifications made by QinetiQ designed to
increase Zephyr's efficiency, including new solar arrays from United Solar
Ovonic
Sion Power batteries a new solar charger and QinetiQ's bespoke
autopilot system. During dark hours, Zephyr is powered by rechargeable
lithium-sulphur batteries.
The successful completion of the test marks the end of the MoD's research
programme for the project and signals its transition to an equipment programme,
QinetiQ's Zephyr business development director, Paul Davey, told Jane's.
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23 March 2006
From http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/energy/2006/03/solar_powered_u.html
QinetiQ, Europe's largest science and technology
organization, has completed the first flight trials of Zephyr - a High-Altitude,
Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that has a 12 meter
wingspan but weighs just 27 kilograms.
The trials took place
at the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, USA. Two aircraft were flown for
four and a half and six hours respectively, the maximum flight times permitted
under range restrictions. The maximum altitude attained was 27,000 feet above
sea level.
QinetiQ believes that stratospheric platforms will rapidly become commercially viable and revolutionize future communications. High altitude
platforms of this sort could provide a cheaper alternative to satellites in
remote areas and developing countries. They can also enable observation of
natural disasters and humanitarian crises. The ultra-light aircraft is solar-electric powered, autonomous and is
designed to fly at altitudes as high as 132,000ft (40km), above normal
commercial air-lanes and most weather. The platform is capable of continuous
operation through the use of solar power and low drag aerodynamics. The
combination of solar panels on the upper wing surface and rechargeable batteries
allows Zephyr to be flown for durations of many weeks and even months. United
Solar Ovonic’s lightweight solar cells have been incorporated into the Zephyr
which is powered by approximately 1 kW of United Solar’s lightweight thin film
PV.
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QinetiQ’s Zephyr UAV achieves flight record
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