The Aquila Project:

Solar UAS for Worldwide Connectivity

AFI RPAS 2017

Bring internet

access to the 60%

of the world who

are not yet

connected

Give people the

power to build

community and

bring the world

closer together

3.2 Billion

Connected

(43%)

4.1 Billion

Unconnected

(57%)

Sources: Mobility Report, Ericsson 2015; ICT Facts & Figures, ITU 2015

Map Data Source: Facebook 2015

95% with no access live in

developing countries

35% online in developing countries

compared to 82% in developed

countries

14%

2010

7%

2014 Source: ICT Facts & Figures, ITU 2015

4G/LTE

3G

2G

Sources: Mobility Report, Ericsson 2015; ICT Facts & Figures, ITU 2015

Map Data Source: Facebook 2015

2/3rds of the World Lives in 3G+ Coverage In rural areas, that number is less than 30%

Connectivity

Barriers

Infrastructure

Affordability

Relevance

Infrastructure

Solar-Powered Airplanes Are Large

And Lightweight

Boeing 737 Aquila

Carbon fiber

monocoque airframe

Optimized aerodynamics

(minimum drag) Solar cells

on top surface

Propeller propulsion

Communication payload

Gateway

Serving

UAS

Mission Profile

Ground

Control

Station (GCS)

Fleet

Operations

Center

Gravitational Potential Energy as a “Battery”

Notional Concept of Operations

• Above FL600 – 70 KTAS

• Direct control of Ground Control Station (GCS)

• GCS to mimic IFR manned aircraft

• Aircraft can be vectored…at 20 KEAS

Notional (ConOps) cont.

• When on station, transfer control to Fleet Operations Center

• One operator per many aircraft

• Largely autonomous

• Respect their service volume

• Respect solar collection requirements

• Handles minor system failures

• No "joystick"

• Predictable response to failures