Puma AE Small Unmanned Aircraft Achieves Continuous Flight for More Than Nine Hours
AeroVironment has announced that a recent outdoor test flight of a solar-powered prototype version of the company's proven Puma AE small unmanned aircraft system (UAS), operating with the company's newest long-endurance battery, lasted 9 hours, 11 minutes - significantly longer than the flight endurance of small UAS being used in the field today. AeroVironment is working with Alta Devices, a Sunnyvale, Calif. company that provides flexible, portable power that can be embedded into any other material, in the development of the solar Puma AE. "This is a critical milestone with far-reaching implications for the many ways small UAS can benefit military, public safety and commercial customers," said Roy Minson, AeroVironment senior vice president and general manager, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). "The solar Puma AE is the latest example of AeroVironment's longstanding commitment to deliver important, innovative solutions that meet our customers' needs.
