SoftBank Corp. (“SoftBank”) introduced that it collected the info crucial for flight verification and plane design as a part of its growth of a next-generation uncrewed plane system (UAS) designed for Excessive Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) by testing a sub-scale mannequin. A low altitude flight check for the sub-scale mannequin, a small-scale model of an precise plane, was performed on March 14, 2023 (U.S. Mountain Time) in Willcox Playa, Arizona.
The sub-scale mannequin used within the flight check was primarily based on “Sunglider,” a UAS designed for HAPS-based stratospheric telecommunications. The present model of Sunglider, developed by SoftBank’s subsidiary HAPSMobile Inc. (“HAPSMobile”)*1 and AeroVironment Inc., efficiently reached the stratosphere throughout a check flight performed in September 2020*2. Based mostly on the achievement and classes realized from Sunglider’s stratospheric flight check, SoftBank and AeroVironment are creating a next-generation UAS. When creating an plane, it’s essential to confirm whether or not it can fly as designed earlier than truly creating and producing the precise one. On this flight check, rigorously crafted a number of sub-scale fashions had been used to create situations equal to these of the full-scale plane’s form and traits. Along with verifying whether or not the plane may fly with stability as designed, following the precise flight check, SoftBank collected and analyzed varied knowledge, together with knowledge on the plane’s structural traits, that might not be in any other case obtained from computer-based simulations.
SoftBank and AeroVironment will apply the info and know-how obtained on this flight check to the event of the next-generation UAS. Each firms are additionally persevering with to deal with buying Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) kind certification and making design enhancements to allow mass manufacturing.
“By creating a number of sub-scale fashions that replicate the form and traits of the full-scale next-generation candidate plane and conducting repeated flight assessments, we had been in a position to receive essential knowledge on next-generation design and management insurance policies that might not be in any other case obtained from computer-based simulations,” stated Junichi Nakajima, Director of SoftBank’s Superior HAPS Analysis Workplace and Senior Vice President of HAPSMobile’s Expertise Administration Division. “We’ll proceed our efforts to develop plane and foundational applied sciences to understand business HAPS-based stratospheric telecommunication companies.”
SoftBank will proceed to advertise its HAPS enterprise with the purpose of making a society the place all might be related to secure networks, anytime and wherever, and to bridge the digital divide.
- [Notes]
-
- *1
- *2
- HAPSMobile and Sunglider are registered emblems or emblems of HAPSMobile Inc.
- SoftBank, the SoftBank title and emblem are registered emblems or emblems of SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and different nations.
- Different firm, product and repair names on this press launch are registered emblems or emblems of the respective firms.
