Some amazing engineer built a drone that can lift its own weight using only the electric power that it gets from an on-board solar panel and nothing else (no battery).
Video: I Built a Solar Powered Drone and it WORKS by Luke Maximo Bell
this post was submitted on 16 Feb 2026
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If they could add a flap and slight airfoil shape to the panel it could be an advantage in the wind.
Also if it can propel itself up post the clouds it wouldn’t have to land for days.
Yeah a partially sail powered drone does sound really neat actually. Would definitely help extend the battery life