ISAE-SUPAERO and H3 Dynamics Develop a Zero-emission Pilotless Aircraft to Cross the Atlantic Ocean
23.11.2020 14:00:00 EET | Business Wire | Press release
ISAE-SUPAERO:
Extracting energy for ultra-long range flights
Since the pioneering work of Lord Rayleigh in 1883, it has been observed that some birds such as Albatrosses can achieve outstanding flight durations and ranges by using wind gradients over flat surfaces. More recently, two Ph.D. programs conducted at ISAE-SUPAERO have provided new insights into the physical mechanism which consists of extracting energy from wind gradients with the objective of transferring the strategy onto fixed-wing drones. A potential range gain of 40% for a given drone has been identified and this can be achieved by applying the flight strategies inspired from Albatrosses and other natural flyers.
The ambition of the ‘Drone Mermoz’ project is to combine different sources of energy in order to achieve a long-range flight with a 100% electrically powered drone. The challenge will consist of following the historical route taken by Jean Mermoz in 1930 between Dakar (Senegal) and Natal (Brazil). The total distance is about 3000 kilometers which proves impossible with a conventional battery-based electric drone.
The key technology to achieving such a long-range flight is based on fuel cells supplied by H3 Dynamics. Because fuel cells produce electricity from Hydrogen and only reject water into the atmosphere, Drone Mermoz will be a collaborative effort between H3 Dynamics and ISAE-SUPAERO to design, manufacture and fly the first 100% green drone to achieve such long distances. Using the best aircraft design strategies available, ISAE-SUPAERO will endeavour to design an optimized drone with a total mass of less than 25 kg to make an attempt at the record in 2021.
ISAE-SUPAERO’s commitment towards sustainable development
The ‘Drone Mermoz’ initiative is in line with ISAE-SUPAERO’s investment in innovative aeronautical and space technologies in a sustainable development perspective.
ISAE-SUPAERO is well aware of the environmental issues such as climate change and energy transition. It has embarked on a mission to raise awareness and the direction of research at ISAE-SUPAERO puts in place environment-conscious research programs thanks to technological innovations and eco-design of cleaner aircrafts.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201123005792/en/
Contact information
Leïla Colaud
leila.c@oxygen-rp.com
About Business Wire
For more than 50 years, Business Wire has been the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure.
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
Crimson Moon Releasing September 1 for $19.99 USD, Offering This Fall’s Best Value for a Hellish Action RPG, Solo or With a Friend4.8.2026 20:00:00 EEST | Press release
ProbablyMonsters, an independent video game company focused on building original IP, today announced that Crimson Moon will release September 1, 2026, on PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S for $19.99 USD, offering a focused game that delivers high-quality visuals and gameplay at an accessible price point. The company also revealed that famous metal musicians HEALTH, Jared Dines, Misha Mansoor, and Ricky Armellino will be composing original songs for the game’s boss encounters. The details were confirmed in a newly-released gameplay trailer, which also announced a Deluxe Edition of Crimson Moon that will cost $29.99 USD on all platforms, offering players access to the Ceremonial Armor Set and the Axe of the Gods weapon cosmetic, along with an upcoming expansion for Crimson Moon that will be released at a later date. “We’ve made Crimson Moon an intense action-adventure RPG that’s approachable to players. We want as many people as possible to enjoy i
Frontgrade Expands Executive Team as Demand Grows for Mission-Ready Space and Defense Technologies4.8.2026 18:48:00 EEST | Press release
Frontgrade Technologies Inc. (“Frontgrade”), a leading provider of mission-critical electronics and subsystems, today announced the expansion of its executive leadership team as it continues to invest in the capabilities for the next generation of space, defense, and intelligence missions. Spanning finance, information technology, operations, reputation, go-to-market, and product leadership, the appointments reinforce Frontgrade's commitment to accelerating innovation and helping customers navigate an increasingly complex environment. The six appointments include: Andrew Matsuyama, Chief Financial Officer, brings more than 30 years of finance and business leadership experience during periods of growth and transformation in industrial and technology driven organizations. Most recently he served as CFO for Honeywell Sundyne. Leveraging this experience, Matsuyama will advance Frontgrade’s financial strategy, strengthen its operating foundation, and support continued focus on customers and
Growing with Purpose, Delivering with Impact: ProAmpac Releases 2026 Sustainability Impact Report4.8.2026 18:13:00 EEST | Press release
ProAmpac, a global leader in flexible packaging and material science, announces the release of its 2026 Sustainability Impact Report, centered around the theme Growing with Purpose, Delivering with Impact, the report highlights the company's advancements in sustainable innovation, environmental stewardship, employee safety, and responsible business practices while expanding its global footprint. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260804969765/en/ ProAmpac's 2026 Impact Report is here Reflecting another year of meaningful achievements, the report demonstrates how ProAmpac is embedding sustainability throughout its business, from advancing innovative packaging solutions and reducing environmental impacts to strengthening workplace safety and supporting the communities where employees live and work. Notable achievements highlighted in the 2026 Sustainability Impact Report include: Continued Global Growth: Expanded P
New Esri Press Book Empowers Users to Unlock the Potential of AI with the Power of Geography4.8.2026 17:35:00 EEST | Press release
Esri has released Exploring GeoAI: Tools and Workflows, a practical guide to applying geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) using ArcGIS. Designed for GIS professionals, analysts, and data scientists, this hands-on workbook provides the knowledge and tools needed to integrate advanced AI workflows into real-world spatial analysis. As GeoAI continues to transform how organizations analyze and interpret location-based data, Exploring GeoAI equips readers with the skills to confidently implement deep learning models and workflows. The book guides users through the full GeoAI life cycle—from preparing systems and data to training, evaluating, and deploying models in operational environments. Readers begin by learning how to install and configure deep learning frameworks, assess hardware capabilities, and optimize system performance. From there, they progress through key stages of the GeoAI workflow, including defining project requirements, selecting appropriate data, choosing and trai
Rehlko Defines What It Takes to Build AI-Ready Power Infrastructure as Data Center Energy Demands Evolve4.8.2026 16:15:00 EEST | Press release
Rehlko, a global industrial energy resilience platform providing custom-engineered, integrated power solutions for mission-critical infrastructure worldwide, today released new insights on the power infrastructure requirements emerging from the rapid growth of large language models and artificial intelligence. In its latest eBook, AI Readiness Starts with Power: Designing for Real-World Load Conditions, Rehlko examines how increasingly dynamic AI workloads are reshaping expectations for data center power systems and highlights key infrastructure considerations for operators seeking to scale AI capacity reliably and efficiently. As the eBook outlines, AI readiness is increasingly defined not by installed capacity, but by how systems perform under highly variable real-world load conditions. The AI Power Challenge As investment in AI infrastructure accelerates, data center operators face growing pressure to deploy capacity faster than traditional utility infrastructure can support. At the
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom