The invention discloses a simulation unmanned plane device and method for photovoltaic panel detection; the device comprises a solar photovoltaic panel and a three dimensional drive unit arranged above the solar photovoltaic panel, the first leading screw and the first servo motor arranged above the solar photovoltaic panel in the X-shaft direction; the first slide block is arranged on the first leading screw, and provided with the second leading screw and the second servo motor arranged in the Y-shaft direction; the second slide block is arranged on the second leading screw, and connected with the third leading screw and the third servo motor arranged in the Z-shaft direction through the first support plate; the second support plate is arranged on the third leading screw, and provided with a sensor assembly. The simulation unmanned plane device and method are not affected by the field solar photovoltaic panel pavement; the laboratory simulation unmanned plane can be used to develop the sensor detection solar photovoltaic panel technology, and said technology can be applied to a real unmanned plane device; the method can shorten the software developing period, and can solve the objective difficulties in the field exploitation process, thus improving the efficiency of the developing process.