Startup US Aerospace SkyDweller Aero, in cooperation with the French giant defense Thales, presented Skadweller-autonomous drone powered by solar energy capable of staying in the air for a period of 90 days without landing.
SkyDweller, designed for maritime and land supervision in a long range, is more than just a drone-is a pseudo-sititarian capable of permanent observation, data collection and real-time analysis. With plans to cross borders towards perpetual flight, SkyDweller can transform the way in which governments, humanitarian groups and industries monitor the land from above.
The scale of Skadwelle is striking. Its 72-meter wings' span is longer than the Boeing 747, but weighs only 2.5 tonnes, which makes it about 160 times lighter than the fully loaded Jumbo jet. The drone is made of lightweight carbon fiber and powered by over 17,000 solar cells covering 270 square meters of wing surfaces. Under optimal conditions, the system can generate up to 100 kilowats of power, which powers the drive and charges over 635 kilograms of batteries for night flight.
Its operational height ranges from 7500 to 10500 meters, with peaks during the day 13,600 meters to maximize sunlight and night downhill consumption to save energy.
SkyDweller has been designed to function in difficult fields, in an environment in which many previous solar -powered aircraft failed due to turbulence. To counteract this, it contains software for relieving load and limiting the flight control system four times, ensuring the continuity of the mission, even if individual subsystems are promoted.
Even more impressive is his self -proclaimed vehicle management system (VMS). If a piece of code fails in the middle of the flight, it is automatically diagnosed, corrected and re-activated-releasing the aircraft to maintain full autonomy and reliability in several months.
In the heart of the possibilities of supervision of Skywweller there is AI powered radar, the X band system with a range of 200 kilometers. At the same time, he can follow thousands of air and sea goals, while autonomously classifying threats by artificial intelligence. By processing data on board, the drone minimizes the use of bandwidth and reduces the need for constant human supervision.
This makes it particularly effective in monitoring conflicts in the gray area, anti-pirate patrols, illegal trade detection and coastal supervision in unstable regions, such as Mediterranean corridors, indo-pacific and Atlantic.
SkyDweller has already completed a series of autonomous test missions, including 22.5-hour flights through the heaven in Gulf Coast susceptible to a hurricane in 2024. These tests approved his weather starting systems and the ability to quickly change conditions, key for operations in southeastern regions or Karibban regions.
With an operational range of 40 degrees north and south of the equator, and potential seasonal use in polar areas, Skadweller is aimed at covering huge parts of the world. While the initial focus is in defense and intelligence, the creators of SkyDweller predict wider applications – from the reaction of disasters and detection of oil leaks to climate tests and a border patrol.
SkyDweller's vision is in line with the innovations driven by QDat and our advanced UAV autonomous technologies. QDATA systems are designed to improve in GPS environments and complex-meaninglessly from whether moving in dense urban areas, raw coast lines, or rapidly changing weather conditions. Combining AI management, fusion of sensors and precise navigation, QDATA allows the drone to act with exceptional reliability and autonomy in various missions.
Together, efforts of companies such as Skywweller Aero or QData mean a turning point in the future of air operations – going beyond traditional aviation towards systems that fly smarter and longer than ever before.
