Solar Array Technology Will Power Autonomous Stratospheric Airship

By Mike Ball / 17 Oct 2018

Smart Sourcing for Unmanned Systems

Discover cutting-edge solutions from leading global suppliers
SUPPLIER SPOTLIGHT
Follow UST

Thales Alenia Stratobus TM

Thales Alenia Space has announced the successful completion of static mechanical validation tests of the first full-scale photovoltaic modules specially designed for its Stratobus autonomous stratospheric airship.

Stratobus will operate at an altitude of 20 kilometers (above regular air traffic) and will perform a wide range of missions, including observation, surveillance and telecommunications, with a service life of five years. To ensure continuity of service, Stratobus TM must remain stationary in its position and withstand winds of up to 90 km/h. To achieve this, it will have 1,000 square meters of photovoltaic cells, which will cover a quarter of the surface area of its envelope and provide the power needed for its four electric motors, energy storage system and mission payload.

Thales Alenia Space, in collaboration with CEA LITEN (the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission’s innovation laboratory for new energy technologies) working on its INES (France’s national solar energy institute) campus, has developed an innovative photovoltaic technology: flexible, low-cost, lightweight modules weighing less than 800 g/m² and offering a high power output of more than 200 W/m² and a large surface area of over 4 m².

Each module comprises an assembly of PV cells with a high efficiency rating of over 24%. Recent tests have demonstrated the high stability of the encapsulation materials in the presence of UV radiation and ozone, combined with low relative power loss after thermal cycling. The modules are designed to withstand the specific thermal and mechanical stresses of the operating environment, including the expansion and contraction of the envelope, while meeting the long service life requirement for this type of technology.

This innovative PV module technology will be incorporated into the full-scale model of Stratobus TM for its first flight in 2022.

Posted by Mike Ball Mike Ball is our resident technical editor here at Unmanned Systems Technology. Combining his passion for teaching, advanced engineering and all things unmanned, Mike keeps a watchful eye over everything related to the unmanned technical sector. With over 10 years’ experience in the unmanned field and a degree in engineering, Mike’s been heading up our technical team here for the last 8 years. Connect & Contact

Latest Articles

Most Read Articles on UST This Week

Here’s our round-up of the five most read articles on UnmannedSystemsTechnology.com this week

Feb 14, 2025
FlyingBasket to Discuss Drone Industry Challenges at XPO Europe

FlyingBasket CTO Matthias Moroder will join a panel at Xponential Europe to discuss the regulatory and market challenges hindering drone industry growth, and the importance of collaboration for wider adoption

Feb 14, 2025
Advanced EFI Engines for Commercial & Industrial Drones

INF Inject's 2- and 4-stroke EFI engines can be provided with a range of options such as alternators, starter-alternators and generators

Feb 14, 2025
SDO 50 UAV Completes Long-Distance BVLOS Pipeline Inspection

SwissDrones’ SDO 50 UAV has successfully carried out a 550-kilometer BVLOS pipeline inspection in Queensland, providing precise, actionable data while maintaining high safety standards

Feb 14, 2025
Enhancing Unmanned System Reliability with SCS Silicone Conformal Coatings

Specialty Coating Systems (SCS) provides advanced conformal coating solutions to protect unmanned systems’ electronics from extreme conditions, ensuring durability, reliability, and compliance with evolving industry standards

Feb 14, 2025
Explore Geospatial Tools with Blue Marble at XPONENTIAL Europe

Blue Marble Geographics will showcase advanced geospatial software at XPONENTIAL Europe 2025, featuring live demos of the Global Mapper Suite and advanced geospatial tools

Feb 14, 2025

Featured Content

Military Vehicles to Feature Small Tethered UAS from Elistair

Elistair has secured a €3 million contract to equip military vehicles with tethered UAS, enhancing real-time intelligence and operational awareness

Feb 13, 2025
Ellipse Series Enhanced with Latest Firmware Upgrade

The new firmware update from SBG Systems integrates the latest World Magnetic Model (WMM) to improve navigation precision, even for first-generation Ellipse sensors

Feb 11, 2025
Advanced FOG-Based Inertial Sensing Solutions for Drones & Robotics

Aegiverse's products feature a multi-layered architecture that combines multiple elements into a compact module, providing significant, size, weight and cost reductions

Feb 06, 2025