Leonardo, as part of its growth strategy in the technological innovation of autonomous flight, invests in Skydweller Aero Inc., a US/Spanish startup specializing in solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles. The initiative will lead to the development and deployment of the Skydweller drone, the world's first solar-powered remotely piloted aircraft capable of carrying large payloads with unlimited soaring capability.
"As an investor and key technology partner of the project, Leonardo will be able to expand its capabilities in the latest generation of autonomous flight systems - characterized by innovative aerostructures, ultralight materials and eco-friendly technologies - improving the company's competitive advantage in the aerospace sector for the next 20 years,” he commented Alessandro Profumo, Leonardo's Managing Director.
Compared to existing systems, Skydweller combines unique characteristics of persistence and range with the typical flexibility of an aircraft. It will be able to operate from air bases located all over the world covering unlimited distances in areas characterized by any environmental condition. This innovative platform will be used for purposes ranging from terrestrial and maritime surveillance to environmental and infrastructure monitoring, from geo-information services to telecommunications and precision navigation.
The system can be rapidly deployed to provide communications to support operators in emergency and disaster situations. The Skydweller project is based on a proven and mature aircraft that successfully circumnavigated the globe in 2016. The first phase of development will focus on converting the aircraft from a conventionally piloted platform into an Optionally-Piloted Vehicle (OPV), integrating advanced autonomy and management systems and algorithms.
The second phase of the project will instead culminate in the first production aircraft designed exclusively for unmanned operations in extreme environmental conditions. The first flights of the OPV are scheduled for 2020 while the first unmanned production model is expected in 2021.
