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NASA Invents Hybrid Electric Airplane/Glider

by Mike on October 7th, 2005

NASA has developed a robotic, electric-motor airplane that detects thermals. When it finds them, the flying computer shuts off the motor and transforms itself into a glider, riding the updrafts to take advantage of free lift.

Agency engineers recently tested their Autonomous Soaring Project at NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center, and found that auto-hitchhiking on thermals added about an hour to time aloft than what would be possible otherwise.

Special software programmed into the airplane’s autopilot flew the aircraft on a pre-determined oval over the northern portion of Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards Air Force Base. When it detected an updraft, the engine automatically shut off and the aircraft circled to stay within the convective lift.

The inventors imagine the concept could be used for unmanned aerial surveillance, especially over forest fires where updrafts are plentiful.

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POSTED IN: Aviation Technology