Solarcopter-powered Solarcopter
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A team of master's graduates from Queen Mary University of London is working on an exciting project: the world’s first photovoltaic (solar) helicopter, named "Solarcopter." Their goal is to develop a remote-controlled, multi-purpose helicopter powered entirely by solar energy. Initially, the prototype featured solar panels to collect energy, along with a backup battery for times when sunlight wasn't available, like on cloudy or rainy days.
Since then, the students have made significant improvements. The latest version can now take off and hover without relying on any backup power. According to the team, “as long as there is sunlight, it should be able to operate for a sufficient amount of time.†While there are still challenges ahead, they’re proud of having successfully demonstrated the concept.
To reach this point, the team went through a long and detailed process. Most of the helicopter was built by hand, and they even designed their own sun simulator for testing purposes. They conducted numerous experiments and used various engineering software to refine multiple design iterations, aiming to maximize performance and efficiency.
Solarcopter has great potential for real-world applications, such as surveillance, search and rescue missions, low-cost transportation, and even traffic monitoring. The team is also considering future upgrades, like adding a camera, GPS, and possibly a swimming mechanism, to make the device more versatile and adaptable to different environments. This project not only showcases innovation but also highlights the power of renewable energy in aviation.