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
Serbian Biotech Startup Takes Its Journey from Belgrade to Cambridge with Documentary on Longevity Science21.9.2026 14:02:00 EEST | Press release
BioEridan, a Serbian biotechnology startup backed by Telekom Srbija Group’s TS Ventures Fund, has premiered a new documentary showcasing its development of underwater Aquafarms and its ambition to contribute to the next generation of longevity science. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921345879/en/ BioEridan Documentary Premiere BioEridan: Science Beneath the Surface premiered in Belgrade on September 15 before being screened the following day at a UK-Serbia Health, Digital Transformation & Innovation roundtable held at Christ’s College, University of Cambridge, as part of Cambridge Tech Week 2026. The roundtable brought together prominent representatives from the UK and Serbia across science, healthcare, technology, academia and business to discuss opportunities for collaboration, innovation and the commercialisation of scientific research. The documentary follows BioEridan’s development from an early scien
LabVantage Named a Visionary Leader in Life Sciences and Industrial LIMS by Frost & Sullivan21.9.2026 11:30:00 EEST | Press release
LabVantage Solutions, Inc., a leading global provider of laboratory informatics solutions and services, has been named a Visionary Leader in two 2026 Frost Radar™ reports by Frost & Sullivan: Frost Radar™: Life Sciences Laboratory Information Management Systems, 2026 and Frost Radar™: Laboratory Information Management Systems in Industrial Applications, 2026. Announced at LabVantage’s Customer Training and Education Conference (CTEC) Europe 2026 in Paris, the dual recognition marks LabVantage’s fourth consecutive year of Frost Radar leadership. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260921487430/en/ The Frost Radar is an independent benchmarking analysis that evaluates companies on a Growth Index and an Innovation Index. The Growth Index measures a company’s growth performance, track record, and ability to execute its growth strategy, while the Innovation Index assesses its ability to develop globally applicable solu
Bending Spoons opens office in Warsaw as Polish applications reach 50,000 in 202621.9.2026 10:15:00 EEST | Press release
Bending Spoons has opened an office in Warsaw, adding to its Milan headquarters and locations in London and Madrid. The technology company, whose portfolio includes Eventbrite and WeTransfer, has seen a sharp rise in applications from Poland and will use the new base to recruit locally for roles across key projects. “We’ve received around 50,000 applications from Poland so far this year, more than twice as many as the whole of 2025. What stands out isn’t just the volume. Many Polish candidates are among the strongest we see in our selection process, and the student talent has been particularly impressive. More than half of our recent hires from Poland were still studying when they applied,” says Andrea Maiorana, Talent data lead. Located in Śródmieście, Warsaw’s city center, the office is within walking distance of the Presidential Palace and the University of Warsaw. Bending Spoons encourages all new hires to spend their first few months in Milan, with travel and accommodation costs f
Strongest Half-Year in Curatis’s History — Revenue up 51% and Significant Progress on Corticorelin (C-PTBE-01)21.9.2026 08:03:00 EEST | Press release
Curatis Holding AG (SIX:CURN, “Curatis”) reports net sales from goods and services of CHF 7.9m for the first half of 2026, up 51% (H1 2025: CHF 5.2m), with the loss for the period narrowing to CHF -0.4m (H1 2025: CHF -1.2m) and cash and cash equivalents rising to CHF 3.6m (31 December 2025: CHF 1.9m). Curatis also advanced its corticorelin (C-PTBE-01) program on multiple levels, including an exclusive Japan licence with Neupharma and continued manufacturing progress. Business development and finances Net sales from goods increased by 46% to CHF 7.4m (H1 2025: CHF 5.0m) and net sales from services rose to CHF 0.6m (H1 2025: CHF 0.2m). Growth was driven both by products marketed for some time and by products added to the distribution portfolio in 2025 and 2026. The gross contribution from goods and services rose by 32% to CHF 1.8m (H1 2025: CHF 1.3m); the combined cost base grew by only 9% against net sales growth of 51%, as personnel expenses rose 5% to CHF 1.3m (H1 2025: CHF 1.2m) and
Galderma Begins Trading in the Swiss Market Index, Joining Switzerland's Leading Blue Chip Companies21.9.2026 08:00:00 EEST | Press release
Galderma (SIX: GALD), the pure-play dermatology category leader, today begins trading as a constituent of the Swiss Market Index (SMI), Switzerland's leading blue chip equity benchmark comprising 20 of the country's largest and most liquid listed companies. Less than three years after its IPO on the SIX Swiss Exchange in March 2024, Galderma has established itself as one of Switzerland's leading listed companies. Its inclusion in the SMI reflects the company's strong growth, disciplined execution and increasing relevance in Swiss and international capital markets as it advances its ambition to become the world's leading dermatology powerhouse. Since its IPO, Galderma has continued to execute its growth-focused integrated dermatology strategy, delivering strong performance across Injectable Aesthetics, Dermatological Skincare and Therapeutic Dermatology. Net sales increased from 4.410 billion USD in 2024 to 5.207 billion USD in 2025, driven by science-led innovation, portfolio and geogr
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