Solar Powered Aerial Vehicle with Tracking Solar Sail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solar powered aerial vehicles are unable to achieve continuous flight at high latitudes during winter months due to limited solar energy collection capabilities, as their conventional wing and body designs are inefficient in low-angle sunlight conditions, and increasing surface area for energy collection results in excessive weight and drag.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a tracking solar sail and X-tail with solar cells on one side, which rotates to track the sun's elevation, allowing for increased solar energy collection and offsetting additional weight and drag with enhanced energy collection capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If more wing, fuselage or tail surface area is added to collect additional solar energy, then solar energy collection is improved, but vehicle weight and drag increase requiring more energy to fly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solar-powered tethered aerial vehicle that uses a vertical tether to access solar energy from a different spatial dimension. Instead of expanding horizontal surface area, the vehicle climbs along a vertical tether to reach higher altitudes where solar irradiance is more intense and consistent, effectively using the vertical dimension to overcome the limitation of surface area expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary structure that provides both mechanical support and a pathway for energy transfer. The tether enables the vehicle to access solar energy at higher altitudes without requiring the vehicle itself to generate all the necessary lift and structural support, distributing the functional requirements between the vehicle and the tether system.
2Use of energy by moving object
If more wing, fuselage or tail surface area is added to collect additional solar energy, then solar energy collection is improved, but vehicle drag increases requiring more energy to fly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solar-powered tethered aerial vehicle that uses a vertical tether to access solar energy from a different spatial dimension. Instead of expanding horizontal surface area, the vehicle climbs along a vertical tether to reach higher altitudes where solar irradiance is more intense and consistent, effectively using the vertical dimension to overcome the limitation of surface area expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether acts as an intermediary structure that provides both mechanical support and a pathway for energy transfer. The tether enables the vehicle to access solar energy at higher altitudes without requiring the vehicle itself to generate all the necessary lift and structural support, distributing the functional requirements between the vehicle and the tether system.
3Stability of the object's composition
If conventional wing and body designs are used, then vehicle stability is maintained, but solar energy collection is insufficient in low-angle sunlight conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a solar-powered tethered aerial vehicle that uses a vertical tether to access solar energy from a different spatial dimension. Instead of expanding horizontal surface area, the vehicle climbs along a vertical tether to reach higher altitudes where solar irradiance is more intense and consistent, effectively using the vertical dimension to overcome the limitation of surface area expansion.
Solution Approach 2:
The tether system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the vehicle, enables access to higher solar irradiance altitudes, and acts as a conduit for energy transfer. This multi-functionality allows the system to maintain stability while dramatically improving solar energy collection without requiring separate dedicated components for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables virtually indefinite flight durations at northern latitudes during winter months, significantly exceeding previous solar powered aerial vehicles' capabilities in terms of altitude, latitude, and payload, while maintaining stability and control functions.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating a tracking solar sail and X-tail with solar cells on one side, which rotates to track the sun's elevation, allowing for increased solar energy collection
Data Source
AI summary
A solar powered aerial vehicle includes an elongated airframe incorporating lifting and control surfaces, a mechanism for propelling the airframe through the air such that lift developed by the lifting surface is equal to or greater than the weight of the aerial vehicle, a planar solar sail coupled to the airframe and having at least one surface adapted to collect solar energy during the day and to power the propelling mechanism with a first portion of the energy collected, and an apparatus such as a fuel cell/electrolyzer for storing a second portion of the solar energy collected by the solar sail during the day and for powering the propelling mechanism with the second portion of energy during the night. The vehicle is capable of continuous operation at northern latitudes and during the winter months for extended periods without landing or refueling.