Autonomous solar-powered drone completes 90-day non-stop atmospheric research flight

An unmanned high-altitude pseudo-satellite equipped with ultra-efficient perovskite-silicon tandem solar wings landed safely in New Mexico after remaining aloft in the stratosphere for three continuous months. Using edge AI navigation to harvest daytime thermals and conserve night-time battery reserves, the aircraft maintained perpetual atmospheric monitoring without fuel.

Aviation Week · Sep 1, 2026