Title:
METHOD OF OPERATING A HIGH ALTITUDE LONG ENDURANCE AIRCRAFT FOR MAXIMIZING SOLAR CAPTURE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2021/011046
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
Systems, devices, and methods including at least one flight control computer (FCC) (113) associated with at least one UAV (108), where the at least one FCC is configured to: determine a direction of travel of the at least one UAV relative to the Sun; adjust a UAV airspeed to a first airspeed if the determined direction of travel is towards the Sun; and adjust the UAV airspeed to a second airspeed if the determined direction of travel is away the Sun; where the first airspeed is greater than the second airspeed to maximize solar capture of a solar array (110) covering at least a portion of the UAV.
Inventors:
LISOSKI DEREK (US)
HIBBS BART (US)
ALLFORD RYAN (US)
HIBBS BART (US)
ALLFORD RYAN (US)
Application Number:
PCT/US2020/029658
Publication Date:
April 15, 2021
Filing Date:
April 23, 2020
Export Citation:
Assignee:
AEROVIRONMENT INC (US)
International Classes:
B64C39/02; B60L8/00; B60L53/51; H02S10/40
Foreign References:
| US10095242B1 | 2018-10-09 | |||
| US20180126851A1 | 2018-05-10 | |||
| US20140021288A1 | 2014-01-23 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
ZARRABIAN, Michael et al. (US)
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