CoulombFly: the tiny solar drone set to revolutionize aerial technology

CoulombFly, the ultra-light solar micro drone, promises to revolutionize the world of autonomous aircraft with its cutting-edge technology

Thought a drone could be as light as a feather and as powerful as a hummingbird? Meet CoulombFly, the solar-powered micro drone, ready to astonish you. Originating from Chinese engineering labs, this technological marvel weighs less than a coin but promises to revolutionize the world of autonomous aerial vehicles.

This tiny technological gem weighs just 0.15 ounces (4.21 grams) and has a wingspan of 7.9 inches (20 centimeters), comparable to that of a hummingbird. Powered solely by solar energy, it doesn’t need batteries, relying only on sunlight converted into propulsive energy.

CoulombFly is equipped with two high-efficiency solar cells that convert over 30% of sunlight into electrical energy. Additionally, it uses an electrostatic motor, much more efficient than traditional electromagnetic motors. This motor harnesses electrostatic fields to generate movement, making the micro drone two or three times more efficient than traditional micro aerial vehicles.

Incredible performance

Under natural sunlight, with about 920 watts of light per square meter, CoulombFly can take off in less than a second. Its propulsion system can generate up to 0.2 ounces (5.8 grams) of lift, allowing the drone to carry an additional payload of approximately 0.06 ounces (1.59 grams). While this may seem small, in the world of micro drones, it’s like lifting an entire gym, enabling it to transport sensors, controllers, and even tiny cameras for live video transmission.

The applications for such a small and tireless micro drone are limited only by your imagination (and privacy laws). Imagine long-duration aerial reconnaissance, city traffic monitoring, agricultural surveillance, or tracking animal migrations without disturbing them. Professor Mingjing Qi of Beihang University in Beijing, the lead researcher, is not content with this achievement: his ultimate goal is a micro drone the size of a mosquito, with a wingspan of less than a centimeter.

The research team is already working to increase the payload capacity to 0.14 ounces (4 grams) and is considering quadcopter or fixed-wing designs to carry up to 1.06 ounces (30 grams). Moreover, they are developing a tiny lithium-ion battery to allow the micro drone to store solar energy during the day and continue flying at night.

Source: Nature