New drones have been created by AeroVironment that are fitted with thin layers of solar cells that are both lightweight and efficient and allow the drones to stay in the air for much longer than ever before. These tiny solar cells are from a start-up company, Alta Devices and this partnership has between them created drones that carry infrared cameras or other communication devices and can fly for up to 12 hours. This is mega efficient compared to the three hours that most average drones have the ability to fly for before needing to recharge.
This could be a real turning point for drones and could get them some excellent publicity if this takeoff. Alta Devices, the supplier of the solar cells, say that 80% of its business comes from drone makers. Although their solar panels are not the cheapest on the market, they hardly weigh anything and have the ability to convert around 30% of the sunlight it absorbs into electricity, which is a fantastic conversion rate. But, to give you an idea on price, Alta Device’s solar film will set you back around $50 – $100 per watt, whereas low-cost solar panels can cost as little as $3 – $4 per watt.
Alta Devices were established in 2011 by co-founder Eli Yablonovitch, a professor at University of California at Berkley but were bought tow years ago by Chinese clean energy company, Hanergy. Some of its major investors include Dow Chemical, NRG Energy, Kleiner Perkins, GE, and NEA.
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