Topics

in vogue

AI

Amazon

Article image

Image Credits:Radical

Apps

Biotech & Health

Climate

solar-powered drone

Image Credits:Radical

Cloud Computing

DoC

Crypto

Article image

Radical’s founders hold the sub-scale demonstrator aircraft.Image Credits:RadicalImage Credits:Radical

initiative

EVs

Fintech

fund raise

Gadgets

game

Google

Government & Policy

Hardware

Instagram

layoff

Media & Entertainment

Meta

Microsoft

secrecy

Robotics

Security

Social

Space

Startups

TikTok

transferral

Venture

More from TechCrunch

Events

Startup Battlefield

StrictlyVC

Podcasts

Videos

Partner Content

TechCrunch Brand Studio

Crunchboard

meet Us

Though many eyes are on place as orbit develops into a thriving business enterprise ecosystem , Radicalis keeping thing a little closer to the priming — but not too secretive . Its gamy - altitude , solar - powered aircraft calculate to succeed whereFacebook ’s infamous Aquilafailed by refining the technical school and embracing more markets .

It ’s hard to think that Facebook ’s challenging plan touse solar - power aircraft to provide net access code in far - flung locationsgot its start a decade ago . But though those dreams came crashing down when the projection was skitter , the concept remain integral .

radical - lightweight aircraft in the stratosphere can , in hypothesis , remain aloft almost indefinitely by powering their propellor via solar control board . Load it up with sensors , telecommunication gear or anything else and you ’ve got a various , mobile asset that is n’t stymie by orbital mechanics or chaotic weather condition patterns .

Radical CEO James Thomas suggested that the tech just was n’t quick before now .

“ There ’s been interest in these high - alt , high - end aircraft for a long time , ” he severalise TechCrunch in an interview . “ It ’s not a new idea , but in the retiring few years a lot of the support engineering have really matured — batteries , solar , even advanced compute . Look at where we ’re at with stamp battery tech now : we ’re almost at 2x [ of Aquila ’s ] . That puts us in a really strong position . ”

The Seattle - ground startup has raise a $ 4.5 million seminal fluid round to take it from a modest - plate protester aircraft , which it successfully flew for 24 hours straight of late , to a full - scale of measurement one . This full - size guile would have a wingspan around 100 foot , but weigh “ as much as a person , ” which I take to mean 100 - 200 pounds .

lay the full - scale aircraft into the stratosphere is Radical ’s master goal , but that has n’t stopped them from scouting out possible use instance .

Join us at TechCrunch Sessions: AI

Exhibit at TechCrunch Sessions: AI

“ We think of what we ’re develop as a political platform for persistent airborne substructure , ” he said , but for usance cases where an orbital plus is n’t practical . For instance , orbital imagery of an area at risk of wildfires might make out in once an time of day — far too sluggish for a speedy reaction . But a high - altitude aircraft could furnish 24/7 live monitoring for week straight , or even change its location to cross novel threats .

For telecommunications , although Starlink is apace come forth as the go - to answer for connectivity in remote areas , it has important limits , like the indigence for precision solid ground substructure . There are plenitude of cases where a flying 5 G station is a honorable bet ( though you still need to work out the backhaul ) .

Radical was one of my picks fromY Combinator ’s former 2023 good deal , and I wrote at the time :

I always thought the idea was compelling but had yet to find its business model . Connectivity anywhere may be a immense new differentiator for wandering mesh , and I look orbiter will be useful but expensive and engorged . Why not a gargantuan glider ? It ’s equally unearthly , but I appreciate the dream .

Apparently I was correct !

One prissy reward of working in the stratosphere , Thomas taper out , is that you have a significantly reduced regulatory incumbrance . Up above the close supervise urban and commercial airspaces , it ’s much simpler to operate and quicker to get approvals .

Radical is n’t the only company looking into this;the AALTO project at Airbusaims to fill a like gap in telecom coverage , andSkydweller ’s much gravid platform(600 kg of batteries alone ) is looking to enter a surveillance and intelligence character with a Palantir partnership .

Thomas enjoin their advantage issue forth from a tight relationship with the companies they work with , who “ really need to be manpower on with the organization . ” Not a one - size of it - fits - all platform , then , but also not purely bespoken — it calculate on the customer ( though he call them customers , they are n’t the paying type yet ; the party is pre - gross ) .

For now the end is to get into the melodic line within the next 12 months , proving the full - size craft can fly and putting them in a position to , presumably , start accepting money .

The seed round was go by Scout Ventures , with additional funding from investor include Inflection and Y Combinator .