Altran aide l’avion solaire à prendre son envol dans la nuit
Last week we cheered the Solar Impulse prototype through the first ever manned solar-powered flight for more than 24 hours, and paid tribute to our colleagues from our parent company, Altran, who were closely involved in the project. The world record overnight solar flight drew attention from media outlets around the world, from the BBC to the New York Times, followed by hundreds of blogs and tweets. It was hailed as a major triumph for alternative-energy enthusiasts, and for all the designers, researchers, engineers, consultants and programmers involved in the huge multidisciplinary project it was an achievement of which to be proud.
Solar Impulse isn’t a small aircraft. With a 64 metre wingspan, propelled by four electrical engines with 10 hp each, it is impressive. The length of the wings are covered with an array of 12,000 solar cells that feed the engines throughout the flight. The solar cells also charge 400 kilos’ worth of lithium-polymer batteries that, on this trip, powered the plane throughout the night portion of its flight around Switzerland.
While the design sounds simple, the prototype required significant technological innovation and brought together a multicultural and multidisciplinary team to contribute their expertise. As the experts in the engineering of systems with safety, security and innovation requirements, consultants from Altran worked behind the scenes to ensure pilot Andre Borschberg experienced a safe and successful flight.
As an engineering partner on the project, one example of where Altran contributed is to the electrical system. To see Solar Impulse through the night, the electrical system needed to be designed and optimised without room for error. Work involved managing the electrical flux between the solar cells, the batteries and the four motors. Between the three sections is the maximum power point tracker. It measures the electricity flow between the solar cells to the batteries and then the monitors and regulates it for safety and efficiency.
Everyone at Altran is very proud of the whole Solar Impulse team. Such a project is proof that through technological innovation, renewable energies have great potential to alter how we live our daily lives.
Read more about the Solar Impulse project
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