A drone that flies over 24 hours without battery swaps is making waves, Kyunghyang reported on the 21st. The trick: solar panels on the wings charge it by day to keep it aloft.

Such high-altitude pseudo-satellites (HAPS) loiter near the stratosphere for long stretches, performing satellite-like roles—relaying communications and observation—at low cost, and are easier to launch and recover than satellites.

The technical keys are a light airframe, efficient solar cells and energy storage. At night it runs on power gathered by day, then recharges at sunrise, repeating for endurance close to 'endless flight.'

With rising civilian and public demand—disaster monitoring, border and maritime observation, connectivity in remote areas—many countries and firms have joined the race, though weather sensitivity and limited payloads remain constraints.

This paper watches how staying aloft for long periods could reshape communications and safety. Low-cost, persistent observation can affect both industry and daily life.