Solar powered stratospheric glider
AssigneeSolaris Suborbital Inc.
InventorsAndrew Charles Elson, Daniel Michael Doulton
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A glider system capable of sustained long-term flight includes a fixed-wing glider having a dual fuselage system. The top surface of the glider is covered with a plurality of photovoltaic cells capable of powering onboard sensors, propeller systems, and/or onboard processers. The glider includes wing spars with a composite material covering an inner foam core, with the type of foam core or use of reinforcement materials differs along the length or width of the wing spars. The glider is able to downward facing sacrificial winglets to provide a landing system without the need for bulkier landing gear.
Claims30
A glider configured for operation in the stratosphere, comprising:
- multiple wings;
- a photovoltaic power source;
- at least one battery positioned inside one of the multiple wings;
- and
- at least one payload item positioned inside one of the multiple wings;
- wherein the at least one battery and the at least one payload item are positioned behind one or more removable parts or covers that define a curved, frontal part of a leading edge of a wing surface and wherein the one or more removable parts or covers form a continuous surface with adjacent parts of the leading edge of the wing surface.
A solar powered glider, comprising:
- an airframe comprising multiple wing sections, wherein the multiple wing sections include at least one removable component defining a leading edge of the multiple wing sections;
- at least one photovoltaic power source;
- at least one power storage device positioned within at least one of the multiple wing sections;
- and
- at least one payload item positioned within the at least one of the multiple wing sections;
- wherein the at least one power storage device and the at least one payload item are positioned behind the at least one removable component defining the leading edge of the multiple wing sections.
A solar powered glider, comprising:
- an airframe comprising multiple wing sections, wherein the multiple wing sections include at least one removable component defining a leading edge of the multiple wing sections;
- at least one photovoltaic power source;
- a plurality of power storage devices positioned distributed across the multiple wing sections to optimize weight distribution and energy storage capacity;
- and
- at least one payload item positioned within the at least one of the multiple wing sections;
- wherein the plurality of power storage devices and the at least one payload item are positioned behind the at least one removable component defining the leading edge of the multiple wing sections.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.