Zephyr solar powered UAV lands after a fortnight in the air (whatever that means)
By Joseph L. Flatley 
posted July 23rd 2010 1:27PM
posted July 23rd 2010 1:27PM
With all the excitement surrounding the solar powered UAV's record-breaking flights, we would be remiss if we didn't mention that QinetiQ's Zephyr has finally landed in an airfield in Arizona, 14 days and 24 minutes after take-off. This quadruples the previous unofficial world record for unmanned flight (which it set itself in 2008). This is a dramatic proof-of-concept, having flown longer without refueling than any other airplane. We'd like to imagine that this technology would be used primarily for delivering toys to children in developing nations, but something tells us that will have to wait until the military gets its hands on it. PR after the break.
After 14 nights in the air, QinetiQ prepares to land its Zephyr solar powered unmanned aircraft
23 July 10 QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air – smashing a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.
Zephyr was launched on 09 July and is currently still flying above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Today Zephyr will have been aloft for 14 nights continuously, achieving the objective of the trial and setting a number of performance and altitude records. At this point QinetiQ's Zephyr team in Yuma will bring the aircraft back to earth.
An official from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation, has been monitoring progress at the Yuma Proving Ground and when Zephyr is back on the ground he looks set to be able to confirm a number of new world records. This includes quadrupling its own unofficial world record for longest duration unmanned flight (82 hours, 37 minutes set in 2008) and surpassing the current official world record for the longest flight for an unmanned air system (set at 30 hours 24 minutes by Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001). Zephyr will also have flown longer, non-stop and without refuelling, than any other aeroplane – having significantly passed the Rutan Voyager milestone of 9 days (216hours) 3 minutes and 44 seconds airborne, set in December 1986.
"Zephyr is the world's first and only truly persistent aeroplane," said Neville Salkeld, MD of QinetiQ's UK Technology Solutions Group. "We are really proud of the team's achievement which has been supported by expertise from across the QinetiQ business and beyond. We've now proved that this amazing aircraft is capable of providing a cost effective, persistent surveillance and communications capability measured in terms of weeks, if not months. Not only is Zephyr game-changing technology, it is also significantly more cost effective to manufacture and deploy than traditional aircraft and satellites."
Easy to transport in a standard road transport container, once launched Zephyr can remain above a general area for weeks, if not months, at a time delivering vital capability at a fraction of the cost of satellites and significantly more cost effectively than other 'conventionally powered' manned or unmanned aircraft. Zephyr also does not need to return to base at regular intervals for re-fuelling or servicing which helps minimise the logistical supply chain, extending its operational capability and appeal. Its zero emissions also make it exceptionally environmentally friendly.
For the trial in Yuma Zephyr is carrying a communications payload configured to meet the needs of the UK Ministry of Defence. In addition to the obvious defence and security applications, commercial uses include environmental research; monitoring crops and pollution; providing tactical intelligence over disaster zones or forest fires; plus delivering mobile communications capabilities in remote areas.
Chris Kelleher, QinetiQ's chief designer said: "We have designed, built and delivered what will be remembered as a milestone in aviation history. Zephyr will transform the delivery of current services such as communications, and lead to many new applications which are not possible or affordable by other means.
"The brand-new 'production ready' Zephyr airframe incorporates totally new approaches to aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, avionics, flight controls, power system management, thermal control, ground control station design and payload, as well as overall operating processes. Our outstanding team has brought this entire 'one-shot' flight together at the first time of asking, demonstrating we can operate both the aircraft and its ultra-light utility payload routinely for long duration flights.
"We've also had to design for temperatures of around plus 40ºC on the ground to below minus 75ºC at altitude, ever changing weather systems including storms and high winds – and Zephyr took them all in its stride. It is a truly fantastic achievement."
Launched by hand, the aircraft flies by day on solar power delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays, supplied by Uni-Solar, no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft's wings. These are also used to recharge the lithium-sulphur batteries, supplied by Sion Power Inc, which are used to power the aircraft by night. Together they provide an extremely high power to weight ratio on a continuous day/night cycle, thereby delivering persistent on station capabilities.
Around 50% larger than the previous version, Zephyr incorporates an entirely new wing design with a total wingspan of 22.5m to accommodate more batteries that are combined with a totally new integrated power management system. The entirely new aerodynamic shape also helps to reduce drag and improve performance. Zephyr's ultra-lightweight carbon fibre design means it weighs in at just over 50Kg.
23 July 10 QinetiQ will today bring Zephyr, its solar powered high-altitude long endurance (HALE) Unmanned Air System (UAS) back to earth after two weeks in the air – smashing a number of long-standing official and unofficial world records.
Zephyr was launched on 09 July and is currently still flying above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. Today Zephyr will have been aloft for 14 nights continuously, achieving the objective of the trial and setting a number of performance and altitude records. At this point QinetiQ's Zephyr team in Yuma will bring the aircraft back to earth.
An official from the Federation Aeronautique Internationale (FAI), the world air sports federation, has been monitoring progress at the Yuma Proving Ground and when Zephyr is back on the ground he looks set to be able to confirm a number of new world records. This includes quadrupling its own unofficial world record for longest duration unmanned flight (82 hours, 37 minutes set in 2008) and surpassing the current official world record for the longest flight for an unmanned air system (set at 30 hours 24 minutes by Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk on 22 March 2001). Zephyr will also have flown longer, non-stop and without refuelling, than any other aeroplane – having significantly passed the Rutan Voyager milestone of 9 days (216hours) 3 minutes and 44 seconds airborne, set in December 1986.
"Zephyr is the world's first and only truly persistent aeroplane," said Neville Salkeld, MD of QinetiQ's UK Technology Solutions Group. "We are really proud of the team's achievement which has been supported by expertise from across the QinetiQ business and beyond. We've now proved that this amazing aircraft is capable of providing a cost effective, persistent surveillance and communications capability measured in terms of weeks, if not months. Not only is Zephyr game-changing technology, it is also significantly more cost effective to manufacture and deploy than traditional aircraft and satellites."
Easy to transport in a standard road transport container, once launched Zephyr can remain above a general area for weeks, if not months, at a time delivering vital capability at a fraction of the cost of satellites and significantly more cost effectively than other 'conventionally powered' manned or unmanned aircraft. Zephyr also does not need to return to base at regular intervals for re-fuelling or servicing which helps minimise the logistical supply chain, extending its operational capability and appeal. Its zero emissions also make it exceptionally environmentally friendly.
For the trial in Yuma Zephyr is carrying a communications payload configured to meet the needs of the UK Ministry of Defence. In addition to the obvious defence and security applications, commercial uses include environmental research; monitoring crops and pollution; providing tactical intelligence over disaster zones or forest fires; plus delivering mobile communications capabilities in remote areas.
Chris Kelleher, QinetiQ's chief designer said: "We have designed, built and delivered what will be remembered as a milestone in aviation history. Zephyr will transform the delivery of current services such as communications, and lead to many new applications which are not possible or affordable by other means.
"The brand-new 'production ready' Zephyr airframe incorporates totally new approaches to aerodynamics, structures, propulsion, avionics, flight controls, power system management, thermal control, ground control station design and payload, as well as overall operating processes. Our outstanding team has brought this entire 'one-shot' flight together at the first time of asking, demonstrating we can operate both the aircraft and its ultra-light utility payload routinely for long duration flights.
"We've also had to design for temperatures of around plus 40ºC on the ground to below minus 75ºC at altitude, ever changing weather systems including storms and high winds – and Zephyr took them all in its stride. It is a truly fantastic achievement."
Launched by hand, the aircraft flies by day on solar power delivered by amorphous silicon solar arrays, supplied by Uni-Solar, no thicker than sheets of paper that cover the aircraft's wings. These are also used to recharge the lithium-sulphur batteries, supplied by Sion Power Inc, which are used to power the aircraft by night. Together they provide an extremely high power to weight ratio on a continuous day/night cycle, thereby delivering persistent on station capabilities.
Around 50% larger than the previous version, Zephyr incorporates an entirely new wing design with a total wingspan of 22.5m to accommodate more batteries that are combined with a totally new integrated power management system. The entirely new aerodynamic shape also helps to reduce drag and improve performance. Zephyr's ultra-lightweight carbon fibre design means it weighs in at just over 50Kg.
Pretty impressive IMO.
@theSixFive
The Ultimate Flight Simulator
So did they have 24/7 rotations of people controlling the flight path or was that all automated as well?
UAV IS OFFLINE!
@gnargl TANGO SUCKA
@gnargle Now there is one question i thought someone on here would ask but no one has.. if it's solar powered how does it fly at night? I thought UAV would be OFFLINE after the sun goes down.
@bwkrazyness
The solar panels charge an internal battery aswell as power it
when the sun goes down it switches to battery
How long did the NASA solar plane fly? Couple of months I thought.
We've been EMP'ed!
2 weeks..
edit: nvm I was wrong :p
How fast was it's top speed?
@Scrubs -2mph in a 5mph headwind.
I'd be afraid to pass gas in its direction though, for fear of throwing it far off course.
Anyone know what the wing loading is on that thing?
is that wingspan for real?
@boxieblue Yep. 22.5 m if I recall correctly. They said it took five people jogging into a headwind to launch. They had to delay the launch a little while waiting for the morning breeze to kick up here.
Engadget sucks! Now because I said this everyone will down rank me. But now because I said THAT, everyone will highrank me. Now because I said THAT I have no idea what is going to happen.
@blenderx360 Yep... pretty much got downranked to oblivion right there...
You were right the first time.
@loocas I love these little social experiments. :-)
@blenderx360 really? u really dont no what would happen to spammers?
Fortnight is 2 weeks, I believe.
@JL3001 Yes, from 'fourteen' and 'night'.
Ready to jam UAV.
Here is an interesting social experiment:
Rank me up if you are smart but can be controlled.
Rank me down if you are a fool but are independent.
Gotta love aircraft technology! However, I would argue the point about it not refueling for the duration. In fact, it was refueling anytime it was flying in the daytime...
I doubt the military would have any use for it.
I highly doubt it could carry a 50 pound bomb.
It would probably break apart if they tried to.
@Ninjakid4 "For the trial in Yuma Zephyr is carrying a communications payload configured to meet the needs of the UK Ministry of Defence." - so there.
Weighing 50 kg, and spanning 22.5 m, it probably can carry quite a bit.
@Ninjakid4
I'm pretty sure it is designed for reconnaissance and possibly as a communications relay.
If everybody "go to the sun" then the gasoline will be obsolete...
;-))
@MilX Pro But keep in mind... we have sun better than 91% of the time (Yuma is in the Guinness book as the sunniest place in the world). We've had very little cloud cover this week (and they got lucky, as I just looked at the Doppler and a thunderstorm and haboob are moving into YPG right now).
@ engadget
since you asked:
"The fortnight is a unit of time equivalent to fourteen days. The word derives from the Old English feorwertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights.
Fortnight is a commonly used word in Britain and many Commonwealth countries such as Pakistan, India, New Zealand and Australia (where many wages, salaries and most social security benefits are paid on a fortnightly basis.[3]) The word is rarely used in the United States, but is used regionally in Canada."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fortnight
don't ask me what's so significant about the number 14 here, i work only in metrics.
@Wiggy Fuzz
It's half a lunar month. That might have something to do with it.
@Wiggy Fuzz I think the 14 is significant because it is two weeks.
Yes, it all seems so interesting, UAVs, artificial intelligence... and then SkyNet comes along.
When I saw the word fortnight I thought two weeks, which reminded me of that fat-chick robot head disguise Arnold sported on Mars in Total Recall.
"TWOOOOOOOO WWEEEEEEEEEEKS"
I learned how long a fortnight is from Family Guy when Stewie and Brian glued their hands together.
Now this is a plane I'd like to fly!
Wooo Hoooo That happened at YPG in Yuma Az, nice to see some hometown news in engadget, just wish the news was about Sprint adding 4g service, or hell, 3G would be nice too because I refuse to switch to VZW, the only one with 3G here
When the author puts out the headline that implies he doesn't know what a fortnight is, he projects a very surprising anti-intellectual stance for a tech-blog. Is he really taking that stance or is there some editor who created that and thought that would be funny to a tech audience?
I, for one, am not laughing. There is far too much of that in evidence, both on the Internet and in paper journalism.
fortnight means 14 days i do believe.
Deliver babies to expecting couples?