Although consumer drones are quite popular, their charging/end of life is still a big problem. If it is used in fine weather, can we use the energy of solar panels to make the drones last longer? The student team at the National University of Singapore (NUS) thinks the same. The four-axle aircraft they developed are mainly made of carbon fiber and weigh only 2.6kg (5.7 lbs).
Aaron Danner (right) and his 'Solar Drone' student team
The drone has no on-board battery or other energy storage system, but is equipped with an array of 148 photovoltaic panels, totaling approximately 4 square meters (43 square feet).
Under the leadership of Associate Professor Aaron Danner, since 2012, eight consecutive student teams have been working on the development of the project. Currently, the aircraft has been able to remotely climb only 10 meters (33 feet).
This proof-of-concept model is expected to take on tasks such as monitoring or photography at the disaster site.
In addition, it is equipped with a GPS system, so it can also fly automatically. If you need to continue flying on a cloudy day or night, you can also add a battery to it.
Danner said that their aircraft is very lightweight. Unlike traditional quadcopters, it does not rely on onboard batteries, so it is not limited by flight time. As long as there is sunlight, it can last for several hours.
