Solar powered plane
The Solaris plane addresses the challenges of complexity, cost, and reusability in stratospheric solar powered planes through modular design, carbon fibre spars, and innovative landing features, achieving efficient and durable long-duration flights.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/US2024/037028
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-07-06
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-08
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-08
AI Technical Summary
Existing stratospheric solar powered planes face challenges such as complexity and cost in manufacturing, servicing, and reusability, while also requiring a balance between lightness and structural integrity to support long-duration flights.
The Solaris plane is designed with modular construction, using carbon fibre spars and structural foam cores to achieve a lightweight yet rigid structure. It features a twin fuselage design with flexible payload layout, and incorporates innovative features like downward-facing winglets as landing skids and a hinged tail for reduced damage during landing.
The Solaris plane addresses the challenges of complexity, cost, and reusability by enabling rapid servicing and configuration changes, while maintaining the necessary structural integrity for long-duration stratospheric flights, thus enhancing operational efficiency and reducing maintenance costs.