Solar-powered aircraft

Abstract

Solar-powered aircraft (10) comprising: - at least one elongated fuselage (11) to which a lift-generating wing assembly (12) is attached, which together with the fuselage (11) forms an outer flow surface of the aircraft; - an electrically powered propulsion device (16) which generates thrust for the aircraft by means of electrical energy; - a solar cell assembly with a plurality of solar cells (20) which converts sunlight into electrical energy for the electrical supply of the propulsion device (16); and - at least one payload container (15) arranged on the aircraft, which forms part of the outer flow surface of the aircraft and has a cavity inside for accommodating at least one payload, characterized in that solar cells (20) of the solar cell assembly are arranged on the payload container (15) such thatthat these form at least part of the outer flow surface of the payload container (15).

Claims

Solar-powered aircraft (10) comprising: - at least one elongated fuselage (11) to which a lift-generating wing assembly (12) is attached, which together with the fuselage (11) forms an outer flow surface of the aircraft; - an electrically powered propulsion device (16) which generates thrust for the aircraft by means of electrical energy; - a solar cell assembly with a plurality of solar cells (20) which converts sunlight into electrical energy for the electrical supply of the propulsion device (16); and - at least one payload container (15) arranged on the aircraft, which forms part of the outer flow surface of the aircraft and has a cavity inside for accommodating at least one payload; characterized in that solar cells (20) of the solar cell assembly are arranged on the payload container (15) such thatthat these form at least part of the outer flow surface of the payload container (15). Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the payload container (15) is arranged on the fuselage (11) of the aircraft. Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that the payload container (15) is arranged in a bow area of ​​the fuselage (11) or that the payload container (15) forms the bow (14) of the fuselage (11). Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the payload container (15) is rotatably arranged on the fuselage (11) about a longitudinal axis. Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that at least a part of the propulsion device (16) is arranged between the fuselage (11) and the payload container (15). Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the payload container (15) has an ellipsoidal or teardrop-shaped outer form. Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the payload container (15) has a larger maximum extent transverse to its longitudinal axis than the maximum extent transverse to the longitudinal axis of the fuselage (11). Solar-powered aircraft (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an electrical energy storage device is arranged on the aircraft, wherein the aircraft is configured to feed the electrical energy converted from sunlight by the solar cells (20) into the electrical energy storage device as required and to supply the electrically operated propulsion device (16) with electrical energy from the electrical energy storage device.

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