During this control flight, Sunglider, the new UAS designed for stratospheric telecommunications platforms, reached higher altitudes than previous flights and maintained maximum altitudes for a long time. Sunglider also passed all checkpoints, adding flight speed changes, tight turns, automated flight in case of a communications disruption with the floor system and in-flight balance
In addition to the Hawaiian island of Lanai, HAPSMobile has built a new check site in SpA as a component of its medium- and long-term business plan. Because the SpA provides flexibility to coordinate control flight schedules, there will be opportunities to conduct control flights more frequently and free to perform types of checks. HAPSMobile also plans to perform stratospheric control flights in SpA.
“We are incredibly pleased to have passed all the fundamental checks. The verification flight validates the effects of the studies we’ve accumulated, and the sleek flight of our new facility to Spaceport America has given us wonderful confidence,” said Junichi Miyakawa, Director of Representative and Chief Technical Officer of SoftBank Corp., and also President and CEO of HAPSMobile. “Based on our delight and the lessons learned from those fundamental controls, I think the odds of HAPS are even more wonderful. We will continue to work towards our ultimate goal of closing the global virtual divide and revolutionizing cellular connectivity by leveraging the HAPS platform. “
HAPSMobile Inc. is a subsidiary of SoftBank Corp. plan and operate a high-altitude platform station (HAPS) business to close the global virtual divide. HAPSMobile is mainly engaged in the study and progression of network devices for the HAPS business, the structure of the central networks, the elaboration of plans for new activities and the activities of use of spectrum. AeroVironment, Inc. is the minority owner of HAPSMobile and the aircraft progression spouse of “Sunglider”, a solar-powered unmanned aircraft designed for stratospheric telecommunications platform systems that flies about 20 km above ground in the stratosphere. HAPSMobile has a strategic appointment with Loon, a subsidiary of Alphabet, Google’s parent company.
For more information, https://www.hapsmobile.com.