General characteristics
Crew: None (Unmanned)
Capacity: 900 pounds
Length: 22.4 m (73.5 ft)
Wingspan: 71.9 m (236 ft)
Height: 23 feet (7 meters)
Wing area: 6.38 m (20.9 ft)
Wing loading: N/A
Empty weight:
Loaded weight: 1600 kg (3,500 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb)
Powerplant: 4 × electric motors, 4 x 41 kWh lithium-ion batteries (633 kg (1,396 lb)), providing 13 kW (17.4 hp) each
Service ceiling: 8,500 m (27,900 ft) with a maximum altitude of 12,000 metres (39,000 ft)
Information: The vehicle is based on the solar impulse glider, designed as surveillance vehicle to remain in flight for an extremely long periods of time by using solar power. Equipped with high end thermal vision and surveillance cameras, the vehicle due to it's incredibly long wingspan and solar panel power supply, can maintain a long period of time in flight, with infrequent need for landing, and can operate remotely, making the maintenance requirements extremely low, especially considering that it does not need to refuel. The aircraft travels slowly, between 30 and 80 mph, allowing it to hover over an area, encircling it, for long periods of time, to give it the ability to capture up-to-date close range surveillance information. The aircraft unlike a sattelite can be diverted to cover a specific area, as well as follow predetermined paths, giving it the ability to focus on areas of enemy hotspots. The information can be accessed and used by all soldiers in a particular vicinity, given the wide array of cameras, and it makes for a good vehicle to assist soldiers on patrols. While it's path is not controlled by soldiers on the ground, requests to divert the aircraft to a particular destination are possible, thus allowing for a bird's eye view of the action at any given point in time.
