Boeing's new UAV idea
Boeing has applied for a patent for a UAV that can stay aloft for 10 days or more at 60,000 feet, and for as long as 30 days at lower altitudes, all while carrying payloads of up to 450 kilograms
Boeing has applied for a patent to build an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can stay aloft for as long as a month. The patent application says the planes will be powered with hydrogen. The aircraft is essentially a liquid-hydrogen fuel tank with a payload bay and very long wings.
This design differs from most other UAVs, which use their wings as fuel stores, thus restricting their aerodynamic design. New Scientist notes that Because the wings do not have to serve double duty, they can be made longer, thinner, and more efficient. The craft’s fuel tank would store liquid hydrogen in vacuum flasks, thawing it out as needed to fuel propeller engines.
Now, Boeing claims such a design could fly for 10 days or more at 60,000 feet, and for as long as 30 days at lower altitudes, all while carrying payloads of up to 450 kilograms. These capabilities should appeal to more than just the military. Such craft could make it easier to take high-resolution aerial photos for on line mapping services or wildlife monitoring, and could even provide wireless connectivity in remote areas.
