INTEGRATION OF HIGH-EFFICIENCY, LIGHTWEIGHT SOLAR SHEETS ONTO UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLE FOR INCREASED ENDURANCE

• Main Authors: PAN, Noren, CHAN, Raymond, MCCALLUM, David, WIBOWO, Andree, YOUTSEY, Christopher, MIYAMOTO, Haruki, OSOWSKI, Mark
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 15.11.2023
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES

Some embodiments include a kit for supplying solar power in a battery-powered or fuel cell powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by incorporating flexible solar cells into a component of a UAV, affixing flexible solar cells to a surface of a UAV, or affixing flexible solar cells to a surface of a component of a UAV. The kit also includes a power conditioning system configured to operate the solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power having a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV. Another embodiments include a solar sheet configured for installation on a surface of a UAV or on a surface of a component of a UAV. The solar sheet includes a plurality of solar cells and a polymer layer to which the plurality of solar cells are attached.