Project description DEENESFRITPL Unlike Icarus, this drone welcomes the sun's powerful rays Observing our Earth's surface and its atmosphere from above enables us to get a much broader view than is possible on the ground. While satellites and aerial platforms have been providing this possibility for a long time, drones have been generating growing interest in recent times. However, existing regulations and a low payload capacity are some of the challenges impeding their widespread use. The EU-funded SX1.3 project is developing a disruptive completely autonomous drone, SolarXOne, to address the current gap in the market. The drone has large payload capacity and, thanks to solar power optimisation, is completely energy independent and able to fly long distances at a much lower cost than the competition. Although the team is starting off with a few target applications including fire detection and precision agriculture, the sky is the limit for this incredibly versatile technology. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective XSUN develops an innovative autonomous solar drone dedicated to earth observation. Inspired from satellite earthobservation, XSUN aims to offer affordable earth data acquisition performed by unmmaned autonomous vehicules to arange of end users which have all express their support to the SolarXOne project : Linear infrastructure observation (such asrailway, pipeline or electrical grid), environmental & security surveillance issues (forest fire detection, traffic surveillance),Maritime observation (traffic surveillance, fishing surveillance), precision agriculture (monitoring of the health of crops andlivestock). A first autonomous prototype is ready (TRL6). Thanks to a patented double-wing innovative design, theperformances of SolarXOne are disruptive compared to existing solutions: large payload capacity (7kg) enabling to carry awide range of data acquisition sensors, very stable flight enabling precise data acquisition, long flight (>600 km / Day),cheaper price for end user compared to competitors. A world record of autonomous solar flight will be tempted in the nextmonths. SolarXOne project objectives are to industrialise the drone production with enhance performances. Adaptability toHydrogen energy source will be added as well as vertical take-off capability. Market demonstration will be done during theproject for linear infrastructure, fire detection, maritime surveillance and precision agriculture. Two operating centres will beopened in France and Germany. XSun is based on 2 complementary business models: earth data service commercializationoperated from the control centres and complete system commercialization. Market analysis have been performed for eachsegment and the business plan shows promising revenue reaching 30 M€ in 2025. XSUN has been created in 2016, its team (12 people) is composed of experienced managers and business developers in the aerospace industry as well as young passionate engineers. Fields of science engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectrical engineeringpower engineeringelectric power distributionengineering and technologymechanical engineeringvehicle engineeringaerospace engineeringsatellite technologyengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringroboticsautonomous robotsdronesengineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringelectronic engineeringsensorsengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energyhydrogen energy Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.3. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Innovation In SMEs Main Programme H2020-EU.3. - PRIORITY 'Societal challenges H2020-EU.2.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies Topic(s) EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 - SME instrument Call for proposal H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020-3 Funding Scheme SME-2b - SME Instrument (grant only and blended finance) Coordinator XSUN Net EU contribution € 1 864 450,00 Address 5 route de la croix moriau 44350 Guerande France See on map SME The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed. Yes Region Pays de la Loire Pays de la Loire Loire-Atlantique Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 799 050,00
