AeroVironment

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AeroVironment is a technology company in Monrovia, California that is primarily involved in energy systems, electric vehicle systems, and unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)s. Paul B. MacCready, Jr., a famous designer of human powered aircraft, founded the company in 1971. The company is probably most well known for developing a series of lighweight human powered and then solar-powered vehicles. Amoung the vehicles the company built are:

  • Gossamer Condor - The first successful human-powered airplane. The Gossamer Condor is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, since it won the first Kremer Prize in 1977.
  • Gossamer Albatross - In 1979 this plane, human powered, flew 23 miles across the English Channel and claimed the largest prize in aviation history. This plane is also at the National Air and Space Museum.
  • Solar Challenger - This plane flew from 163 miles from Paris France to England on solar power.
  • Pathfinder - This unmanned plane demonstrated that an airplane could stay aloft for an extended period of time based purely on solar power. It is also at the National Air and Space Museum.
  • Sunraycer - This solar powered car won the first world's first solar car race in Australia in 1987. The next fastest car finished two days after the Sunraycer. This car is at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.
  • GM Impact - This was an electric powered car, developed as a serious prototype for a mass-production consumer car.
  • Helios Prototype - This solar cell & fuel cell powered UAV set a world record for flight at 96,863 feet (29,524 meters).

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