Startup Aims to Keep Planes Flying for a Year

A Bengaluru startup named Alteon is pioneering autonomous aircraft capable of remaining airborne for over a year, utilizing energy harvested from ocean winds. The company recently secured $2.5 million in pre-seed funding, with prominent investor Lachy Groom leading the round. Alteon's innovative approach is inspired by dynamic soaring, a technique observed in albatrosses.

This novel technology aims to overcome the limitations of conventional aircraft that require carrying substantial fuel or battery power for flight. Alteon's small, fixed-wing autonomous aircraft are designed to extract energy from wind shear above the ocean by repeatedly moving between air layers of different speeds. Initially, the aircraft will be deployed for maritime surveillance, offering governments real-time monitoring capabilities.

The startup's plan involves building a three-meter wingspan aircraft that flies near the ocean's surface, utilizing wind speed differences to gain energy. Eventually, it aims to convert this energy into electricity to recharge onboard batteries. While Alteon has demonstrated autonomous flight systems over the Bay of Bengal, achieving "energy-neutral dynamic soaring" remains a key future milestone, allowing continuous flight with propulsion off.

Experts acknowledge the ambition behind Alteon's project, noting that while the underlying physics of dynamic soaring are established, proving reliable energy extraction in real-world conditions presents significant challenges. The startup, founded in 2025 by 20-year-old Samay Sanghvi, operates from a 10,000-square-foot facility in Bengaluru and has a team of 20.