This is really cool and this is the kind of startup I'd be applying to in a heartbeat! Very excited to see this happening, great work! I feel like there is vastly more potential for LTA flight that isn't being re-explored with autonomous drones and solar being viable now.
What altitudes do you intend on operating in the "v1"?
> I feel there is vastly more potential for LTA flight that isn't being re-explored with autonomous drones and solar being viable now
Interesting to see it go the other way too. Hybrid Air Vehicles near me is the remnants of a cancelled US military autonomous blimp project, now aspiring to use the large helium blimps originally powered by diesel engines to pilot 100 civilians passengers as an alternative to turboprops (i.e. use the bits of the tech and the business model that's been around in some form since before Hindenberg)
I do think freight with electric propulsion (over distances battery-powered heavier than air aircraft can't compete even if they're also autonomous) is an easier environmentally friendly sell.
Standard drone regulations in the U.S. allow mostly unrestricted flight up to 400 feet. We think that's about the right altitude to stay below general aviation - no obvious advantages to flying higher - but TBD depending on how regulations evolve
notahacker|4 years ago
Interesting to see it go the other way too. Hybrid Air Vehicles near me is the remnants of a cancelled US military autonomous blimp project, now aspiring to use the large helium blimps originally powered by diesel engines to pilot 100 civilians passengers as an alternative to turboprops (i.e. use the bits of the tech and the business model that's been around in some form since before Hindenberg)
I do think freight with electric propulsion (over distances battery-powered heavier than air aircraft can't compete even if they're also autonomous) is an easier environmentally friendly sell.
joefigura|4 years ago