This tiny solar-powered flyer weighs less than a paper plane

Researchers have overcome efficiency and power issues to create what they believe to be the lightest and smallest sunlight-powered rotorocraft in the world.

Micro aerial vehicles or MAVs could have a host of applications from environmental monitoring to search and rescue. But currently, these tiny flying machines have a problem — endurance. MAVs that weigh less than 10 grams are normally limited to around 10 minutes of flying time.

To increase flying time, other types of propulsion have been tested, but these still require bulky power systems on the ground to take off, preventing any craft from freely flying.

One solution could be solar power. But until now no solar powered MAV has been capable of untethered sustained flight in natural sunlight.

So to solve this, researchers have developed CoulombFly, a solar-powered MAV propelled by a new extremely efficient electro-static motor and powered by incredibly light solar panels.

[simontillson]

That’s probably the coolest electrostatic motor I’ve ever seen. Great work!

[JerryVolland-btcb]

Make it smaller is the right approach; at the nanoscale, electrostatic forces are a hundred thousand times stronger than electromagnet forces, with the same electrode spacing.

[.]

Now you need a camera light enough to fit on it

[steveschunk]

Beautiful dual of electromagnetics, avoiding high currents and heavy armatures. Make it a ducted fan?

[JenkoRun]

Anyone interested in electrostatic motor technology should look into the work of Oleg Jefimenko, his motors could put out some serious torque. And yes, putting the input through a HV transformer increases the total output, the big ones only take microamps to operate.

[jimmimak]

I mistakenly thought it would be using electro hydrodynamics with no moving parts like the lifters but an electrostatic motor is still cool. I wonder if an ultracap sandwich can be built into the rotor/ stator blades to hold more charge. I wonder how they got the voltage transformer so small.

[mitaskeledzija]

Reminds me of that glass bulb with a sheet of metal inside twisting to Sun light

[MetalMinded]

attach a balloon to a micro, now whats the loiter time?

[elraviv]

at 2:05 it doesn't get hot, but at 1:26 it relies on brushes and friction. this doesn't add up nor ensures long life for such delicate parts.

[asimovstarling]

Wonder if anyone has thought to put the solar cells on the propellers? Unusual design constraints demand unusual solutions.

[Allexz]

Finally an invention which has a solid usecase!

These can be used to check wether windows are open or not!

Say for example you forgot the window open upstairs, upon walking up the stairs there would be the possibility of two scenarios:

A: If you left the window open you will find this flying machine on the floor, since it was barely touched by a draft and instantly crashed to the floor.

B:As the window was closed the magnificent invention proves that the window was closed as it did not crash violently.

[kahlzun]

Would it be negatively affected by air humidity if it's using an open engine like that?

[JerryVolland-btcb]

Now make one with an inertial propulsion lift system and send it out to space.

[drLoubeugTROLL]

Isn't that motor called a coranal effect motor or something like that ? That could have so much cool applications.

[stephenroot]

Why am I getting a mental image of a 500v-5kv electrostatic motor being powered by a 2.5v solar battery?

[compassroses]

Would it not be more stable if the rotor were a section of a cone? (angled)

[orpheuscreativeco]

Store some risidual power in the frame (carbon fiber) to weather light interruptions. 🤔

[Nolan]

could they use fledspar to direct light over the photoreceptor

[gabedarrett]

If these motors are also brushed, why is the friction lower??

[renatox]

Has anyone been able to distinguish all the components of the circuit?