As part of the 3DEXPERIENCE Lab accelerator program, XSun developed the prototype within a year, enabling it to fly for extended periods using batteries that can be charged in flight with solar power. XSun used the 3DEXPERIENCE cloud platform to collaborate on the UAV's surface design, aerodynamics, and component geometry, as well as to simulate and test different materials, wiring configurations, wind flow, and structural integrity, with automatic updates to the digital model as designs were revised.
 
The SolarXOne SX1.2 UAV, with its twin-wing design, 15-foot wingspan, 8.5-foot length, and total mass of less than 55 pounds, is capable of remaining airborne for months. It can make its own decisions without human guidance and can carry sensors and cameras capable of mapping, monitoring, or measuring virtually any point on Earth's surface. This could give farmers better real-time crop monitoring, help fishermen avoid catching unwanted species, and assist firefighters in extinguishing wildfires. The goal is to commercialize XSun by early 2020.

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