High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The idea of designing an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) that could remain in the air for a long time has been around for decades, but only became an operational reality in the twenty first century. Endurance UAVs for low-altitude and high-altitude operation, the latter sometimes referred to as "high-altitude long-endurance (HALE)" UAVs, are now in full service. This chapter describes the evolution of the endurance UAV concept. The idea of using HALE UAVs as a cheaper alternative to satellites for atmospheric research, earth and weather observation, and particularly communications goes back at least to the late 1950s, with conceptual studies focused on UAVs with conventional propulsion, or new forms of propulsion using microwave beamed power or photovoltaic solar cells.

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