SolAero Technologies Delivers Solar Wing For Bye's StratoAirNet UAV

SolAero Technologies Corp (SolAero) has delivered the first solar wing for Bye Aerospace's "StratoAirNet", a solar-electric unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

SolAero is integrating their advanced high-efficiency solar cell technologies on the graphite composite StratoAirNet wing using proprietary methods to maintain the critical laminar flow surface on the wing, the company announced Tuesday.

The initial wing-solar cell configuration will deliver sufficient power, approximately 2,000 Watts, under suitable daylight conditions at altitude, to achieve sustained flight of the StratoAirNet solar-electric UAV.

The Bye Aerospace "StratoAirNet" family of "atmospheric satellites" are intended to provide support for commercial and government security requirements.

The initial medium-altitude StratoAirNet 15 proof-of-concept prototype is nearing completion and undergoing final assembly.

Final assembly and integration of the wings and power systems integration of the 15-meter wing span solar-powered StratoAirNet are planned to begin in November 2017, with ground and flight tests to follow from their new facility at the Northern Colorado Regional Airport near Loveland and Ft Collins, Colorado.

"The integration of the advanced SolAero solar-cells on the StratoAirNet prototype launches the initial demonstration phase of an entirely new paradigm of highly efficient solar-electric UAVs", said George Bye, CEO of Bye Aerospace.

Commercial mission applications for the StratoAirNet atmospheric satellite include "communications relay, internet service, mapping, search and rescue, firefighting command and control, anti-poaching monitoring, damage assessment, severe weather tracking, agriculture monitoring ("precision ag"), mineral source surveying, spill detection and infrastructure.