AIRCRAFT

ELHASPA Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft makes first flight

December 1, 2011

Germany's DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics flew its unmanned solar-powered ELHASPA aircraft for the first time this month

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There's no doubt that satellites have become an essential part of our daily lives, making things like communications, navigation, weather forecasting, and remote imaging all possible. Unfortunately, the orbiting objects can be very expensive, both to build and to launch into outer space. For some of the functions that they carry out, however, an actual satellite isn't required - a high altitude, long endurance (HALE) aircraft could also get the job done, and at a much lower cost. Some such aircraft have been powered by conventional fuel, batteries, and hydrogen. On November 13th, though, the Electric High Altitude Solar Powered Aircraft (ELHASPA) joined the ranks of HALE aircraft to fly using nothing but the power of the Sun.

ELHASPA was designed and built by Germany's DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics, in collaboration with other groups including EADS aerospace. It is intended to serve as a "demonstration and research vehicle to advance technology and test applications for infinite high altitude solar flight."

The unmanned aircraft itself has a wingspan of 23 meters (75.5 ft), a length of 10 meters (33 ft), weighs 100 kilograms (220.5 lbs), and can carry an additional 5-kilogram (11-lb) payload. Its two propellers are each driven by separate 2-kilowatt electric motors, which are in turn powered by an array of photovoltaic panels located along the top surface of the plane's wing.

According to DLR, this month's maiden flight of ELHASPA is just a first step towards other, more advanced solar-powered stratosphere platforms, which could fly autonomously at altitudes of over 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) for months at a time. Video of the maiden flight, which lasted just 30 seconds in conditions less than ideal for a solar-powered aircraft can be downloaded here.

It's only early days for ELHASPA, which still has some way to go to compete with the Zephyr HALE solar-powered aircraft from British aerospace firm QinetiQ, which has already set three endurance records.

About the Author

An experienced freelance writer, videographer and television producer, Ben's interest in all forms of innovation is particularly fanatical when it comes to human-powered transportation, film-making gear, environmentally-friendly technologies and anything that's designed to go underwater. He lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he spends a lot of time going over the handlebars of his mountain bike, hanging out in off-leash parks, and wishing the Pacific Ocean wasn't so far away. All articles by Ben Coxworth

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8 Comments

This plane need to became a high priority project, not biofuel planes. It's the best thing for the environement to have passenger planes with this technology.

Iosif Eugen Olimpiu
2nd December, 2011 @ 02:51 am PST

re; Iosif Eugen Olimpiu

The load limiting factor in commercial aviation is the maximum energy that the landing gear can absorb at touchdown. So the designers combined the aircraft's minimum safe flight speed with the weight of the plane and the necessary minimum fuel reserves, this number was then subtracted from the maximum energy the landing gear could safely absorb. After calculating to separate the velocity from weight they know the maximum cargo weight. But solar cells, and batteries do not get lighter as the energy is consumed so that the "fuel" weight is the same at landing as takeoff. Every time an airliner as a problem at takeoff that prevents them from raising the landing gear the plane either dumps fuel, or flies in circles to burn off fuel to get under the maximum gross landing weight. So except for "toys" (small general aviation), and low altitude "satellites" solar powered aircraft are a fantasy.

Slowburn
2nd December, 2011 @ 10:54 am PST

What if you dropped the majority or the batteries before landing? Make them detachable with a parachute leaving only "reserve" batteries

Reuben Stewart Richardson
4th December, 2011 @ 04:13 pm PST

Stronger landing gear of course.

christopher
4th December, 2011 @ 05:01 pm PST

Hello! 75ft wing for an 11lb payload. A long, long way to go before we see this being used for anything other than what this was designed for d;-)

Jetwax
5th December, 2011 @ 02:06 am PST

For the skeptics: there are already several people carrying solar powered planes including the latest one the solar impulse plane which is scheduled to carry the pilot around the world nonstop.

Michaelc
6th December, 2011 @ 09:58 am PST

This will save a staggering amount of money. Satalite capabilities with no rocket costs, repair and maintenance easy at ground level. With solar cell efficiency going up and energy storage solutions becoming better and better.

I would say that within 1-2 years from now they will be able to build a plane that will be able to carry far more than this prototype.

As for travel, planes are not the solution. Quantum Levitating trains running in a vacuum are potentially the fastest transporter for commercial use as it can accelerate and decelerate at the maximum rate that will remain comfortable for passengers and the energy cost is minimal and there is zero polution. No exhaust, no heat polution. They could be powered by solar cells running above the train tube.

Foxy1968
8th December, 2011 @ 03:30 pm PST

Would it be too much? I have been watching this a few days. A fire like the great smokey may be spotted more quickly. Combination lightning and heat signature detection can prevent an engulfment by small scout. So we don't get paid in spades.

Shawn Powell
24th March, 2012 @ 01:29 am PDT