Silent Falcon: Solar-Powered UAV That Can Fly For 14 Hours On Battery

Last Monday, Silent Falcon UAS Technologies officially announced the Silent Falcon solar electric Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) at the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) conference in Las Vegas. This solar-powered unmanned vehicle can fly up to 14 hours in the sky.


Silent Falcon

Silent Falcon is the result of the company’s collaboration with Bye Aerospace. Silent Falcon is a small tactical UAS (or UAV) which for long-range intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The Silent Falcon uses Thin Film Photo Voltaic (TFPV) panels built into the wings with lithium polymer batteries for energy storage. Therefore it can fly up to 14 hours. The solar-powered UAV Silent Falcon can fly up to six hours running on battery power during night time.

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John Brown, CEO of Silent Falcon UAS Technologies said, “After over two years of development, we are excited to bring this extraordinary sUAS to market. We believe we have introduced truly disruptive technological innovation to the sUAS market, and are proud to introduce Silent Falcon, the UAS that embodies the latest aerospace, electronic and sensor technologies to enable it to fly silent, fly longer and see more.”

In addition to its solar propulsion system, the 1.77 meter (5.8 ft) long Silent Falcon has three sets of interchangeable wings. The span range of this wings are from 2.1 meters (6.9 ft) to 5.2 meters (17 ft). Besides, it has a top speed of 112 km/h, (60 knots), an operational flying altitude from 100 feet (30.5 m) to 20,000 feet (6,096 m) and a range of 25 kilometers (15.5 mi). No sound can’t be heard beyond about 100 feet (30.5 m).

The Silent Falcon’s other notable features include an electro-optical, infrared and laser pointer sensor; a silent and highly efficient propulsion system; and a lightweight carbon fiber composite structure.

The Silent Falcon™ sUAS At A Glimpse :

  • Extraordinary flight endurance
  • Long range
  • Thin film photo voltaic (TFPV) solar energy collection and lithium polymer batteries for energy storage
  • Gimbal safety retract
  • Electro optical, infrared and laser pointer sensor on patent pending “FalconVision™” gimbal
  • STANAG 4586 Compliant Unified Ground Control System
  • Silent and highly efficient propulsion system that is undetectable at less than 100’ AGL
  • Lightweight carbon fiber composite structure
  • 3 interchangeable wing sizes to easily adapt to mission endurance requirements
  • Unique launch and recovery system
  • Man portable

Silent Falcon is designed for both military and public safety applications. At present, the Silent Falcon is in its pre-production phase. It will be entering production sometime next year.

Source : Silent Falcon

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Anatol

Anatol Rahman is the Editor at TheTechJournal. He loves complicated machineries, and crazy about robot and space. He likes cycling. Before joining TheTechJournal team, he worked in the telemarketing industry. You can catch him on Google+.

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Sofia Bulloch

    Therefore it can fly up to 14 hours. The solar-powered UAV Silent Falcon
    can fly up to six hours running on battery power during night time.

    http://www.watertrampolinesexpress.com/

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