The First Battery-less and Solar-Powered Drone Has Flown: It Aims for a World Record

YouTuber and engineer Luke Maximo Bell has developed a battery-free drone that runs entirely on solar power. The carbon fiber-bodied drone achieved a new first by taking off without energy storage.

As technology advances, we continue to see innovative ideas, especially in the field of aviation. Finally, YouTuber and engineer Luke Maximo Bell, who pushes the boundaries in drone technologies, has undertaken another unconventional project. Bell developed a drone that operates solely on solar energy without any battery, capacitor, or energy storage unit. The model can operate on energy received directly from the sun.

Takes Off Without Storing Energy

Bell’s project follows his recently developed Peregreen 3 drone, which reached a speed of 585 km/h. After the speed record attempt, the YouTuber has now created a productivity-focused design. As you might guess, designing a battery-less drone requires minimizing weight. Therefore, carbon fiber material was chosen for the body and propellers.

The power source is a long array of 27 small solar panels mounted directly on top of the drone. The panels are connected directly to the power system, transmitting energy instantly to the motors. It should be noted that the system struggled to stay airborne in initial tests, particularly due to its lightness. Changes in wind direction or the intensity of sunlight easily affect the drone’s balance. Despite this, Luke managed to fly the device successfully, albeit briefly, after a few adjustments. The drone was able to stay aloft using only sunlight, making the project technically “successful.”

Luke Maximo Bell states that the project is still in its initial stages. The new version will include more solar panels, a GPS module, and autonomous flight software. The goal this time is to break a Guinness World Record.

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