Blog
April/May Newsletter
Press Release: Alta Devices Introduces New Solar Product To Enable Flying Cell Phone Towers The First Stratospheric Solar Product The Alta Devices HALE solar product, called Alta Devices Anylight Solar for HALE UAVs is available now and utilizes Alta’s recently announced 29.1% world-record efficiency single junction solar cell. Alta Devices AnyLight Solar [...]
Flying Cell Phone Towers Q&A
You may have read our recent press release titled ‘Alta Devices Introduces New Solar Product to Enable Flying Cell Phone Towers’ and wondered what a flying cell phone tower is or why they are important. In this blog post we explain what this disruptive technology is and why it is [...]
Alta Devices New Product for HALE UAVs
The First Stratospheric Solar Solution This week Alta Devices announced a new product, Alta Devices AnylightTM Solar for HALE UAVs. This is the first solar product designed specifically with stratospheric conditions in mind. UAVs that fly at stratospheric altitudes are an important new aircraft category that include: HALE (High Altitude [...]
Alta Devices is ISO Certified
We’re happy to share that Alta Devices is now ISO 9001:2015 certified. What Is ISO? ISO is short for the International Organization for Standardization. It is an international standard-setting body that has been around since 1946. ISO 9001:2015 is the 2015 update of ISO 9001 and it is the most [...]
SPOTLIGHT Newsletter: September 2018
Alta Devices Powers Successful CubeSat Mission Asgardia-1 Satellite August 6, 2018 – A successful CubeSat mission by Twiggs Space Lab, LLC (TSL), NearSpace Launch, Inc. (NSL) and their launch logistics partner, NanoRacks LLC (NanoRacks), was powered by Alta Devices solar. The Asgardia-1 satellite was based [...]
Highlights from Xponential 2018
Xponential 2018 Alta Devices Booth Alta Devices was in Denver for Xponential, the UAV/Drone industry’s largest show earlier this month on May 1-3. It was a great opportunity to learn about cutting-edge innovation, share perspectives on industry developments, and connect with some old friends. We wanted to share our [...]
Empowering Autonomy
Autonomy is everywhere. As sensor, GPS, LIDAR and machine learning technology advance, the exciting reality of autonomously controlled aircraft, vehicles and devices is being realized. Many technology, aerospace, and transport companies are racing to develop autonomous vehicles that will fly, drive or even float. However, one critical component of this [...]
SPOTLIGHT Newsletter: April 2018
AUVSI Xponential - All Things Unmanned This month Alta Devices will be attending Xponential in Denver, Colorado. We will be exhibiting a solar UAV, solar wing segments and other examples of our solar technology. Our team is looking forward to meeting you at the show! On [...]
Integrating Solar Into Your UAV
How Do I Integrate Solar Into A UAV? Integrating solar will provide additional power to a UAV that can be used to extend range or carry additional payload. Integration can be as easy or complex as you want it to be, depending on the time and materials you have available. [...]
Alta Devices Wins Innovation Award – 53rd Annual Murphy Award
Over the weekend, Alta Devices was presented with an award by the Sunnyvale Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce for Outstanding Innovation in Solar Cell Technology. This year is the 53rd year of the annual Chamber of Commerce Murphy Awards. The awards recognize business and community accomplishments in technology, innovation and [...]
SPOTLIGHT Newsletter: February 2018
Space Solar cells are a necessity for power in space. Alta Devices lightweight, thin, flexible, gallium arsenide solar cells are matrixed together to form high-efficiency solar arrays that maximize power while minimizing cost and launch weight. Can You 3D Print Metal Parts in Space? Of [...]
Small Satellites – Key Terms You Should Know
Small satellites have disrupted the landscape of space exploration. Compared with traditional large satellites, they offer lower cost, quicker, more frequent and broader access to space. Most are used for earth observation but others are used for communications, meteorology, research and insurance. The small satellite market is booming and recent [...]
UAV 101
New entrants to the commercial UAV or drone industry are often confused by the vast number of acronyms they encounter. To assist we have developed this helpful glossary of some of the most important terms: We’ve separated it into a few sections for readability; Types of UAVs, Components/Systems, Operating Modes [...]
SPOTLIGHT Newsletter: November 2017
Is Solar a Game-Changer for UAV Flight Time? The Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) market has grown rapidly in recent years, in both military and commercial markets. For small, unmanned systems, increased endurance means less risk of damage to the aircraft and the ability to cover more ground. [...]
Alta Devices Excels in Naval Research Lab Solar UAV Shootout
The main limitation currently facing the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) market is the short flight time of these aircraft- that’s where Alta Devices comes in. Alta solar cells offer a way to capture energy while flying without compromising the weight, size, or maneuverability of an aircraft. Researchers at the U.S. Naval [...]