Green Options » UAVs

USAF Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to Run on Solar Power

Andrew Williams — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 11:16:57 +0000

A team of US scientists are working on a new generation of airborne solar cells, and expects them to power Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the near future.

The University of Washington’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI) project team, believe that their new breed of Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) will become an optimum energy harvesting source that may lead to longer flight times without the need to refuel.

According to lead researcher Dr. Minoru Taya, “These kinds of solar cells have more specific power convergence efficiency (PCE), very clean energy and easy scalability to a larger skin area of the craft, as well as low-temperature processing, which leads to lower costs overall.”

Unmanned Predator Drones to Run on Fuel Cells

Amiel Blajchman — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 01:00:36 +0000

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), made famous by their use in Afghanistan may soon be flying using alternative energy fuel cells. Used mainly in situations too dangerous for soldiers or manned aircraft, UAVs have become an integral part of the military’s overseas missions. A pilot program run by the Naval Research Laboratory is developing a new type of UAV that would be able to travel farther and carry more by utilizing emerging fuel cell technology.

The Ion Tiger uses a hydrogen-powered fuel cell, which means it emits zero emissions, very little heat and noise (both military and environmental benefits). Using technology pioneered by the automotive industry, principal investigator Dr. Karen Swider-Lyons explains:

Michigan Students Set World Record for Longest Flight by Fuel Cell Powered Plane

Andrew Williams — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 20:29:50 +0000

A group of students from the University of Michigan have set a new world record for the longest flight ever by a fuel-cell powered plane.

Late last month the team, known as SolarBubbles, flew the $2,500 plane (video) around a field in Milan, Michigan for a total of 10 hours, 15 minutes and 4 seconds - smashing the previous 9 hour record held by a Californian engineering company.