Abstract: Wind-powered aircraft utilize energy from the ambient air environment, such as air currents, thermal updrafts, or wind speed gradients, to achieve "power-free" or "low-power" sustained flight. They mainly include three categories: biomimetic flapping-wing aircraft, high-altitude balloon/glider platforms, and wind-powered drones. These technologies combine aerodynamics with meteorological environments, making them suitable for long-term monitoring in low-altitude and near-space regions, with green and low-carbon characteristics. Internationally, Germany's Festo SmartBird and America's AeroVironment Nano Hummingbird lead in biomimetic flapping-wing technology; the UK's QinetiQ Zephyr high-altitude drone has set a 64-day endurance record; and the US Naval Research Laboratory's wind-powered drone has achieved 11 hours of power-free flight. Domestically, Northwestern Polytechnical University's "Cloud Owl" and "Pigeon" have made breakthroughs in endurance and maneuverability, while the "Honghu Special Project" high-altitude balloon can carry loads of over 1000 kg and reach altitudes exceeding 30 km, but it still needs to enhance engineering verification capabilities compared to international standards. In terms of control, model predictive control, sliding mode control, and multi-sensor fusion are employed to ensure flight stability. Looking ahead, precise wind field modeling, intelligent autonomous control, and new material applications are key focus areas, with challenges including high environmental dependence, system reliability, and regulatory compliance. Wind-powered aircraft have broad prospects in environmental monitoring, emergency communications, and other fields, requiring both technological innovation and policy support to drive development.