公开(公告)号：US10476296B1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-12

申请号：US15637214

申请日：2017-06-29

Applicant: Sprint Spectrum L.P.

Inventor： Walter F. Rausch ,  Guenther Ottendorfer

IPC: H02J7/00 ,  H02J7/35 ,  B64C39/02 ,  H02S40/38 ,  H02S20/30 ,  H02S40/22

Abstract: A secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV at night and illuminates the solar-powered UAV's solar panels to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge mid-flight. The secondary UAV could be equipped with a directional light source for providing light of a color and intensity selected for optimal absorption by the solar cells of the solar-powered UAV. As the secondary UAV flies over the solar-powered UAV, the secondary UAV could thus direct its light source at the solar-powered UAV for absorption by the solar cells, to help supplement the solar-powered UAV's battery charge. Further, the secondary UAV could potentially recharge multiple solar-powered UAVs during a single nighttime mission.