scholarly journals Alternative power source for Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 152-155
Author(s):  
Piotr Mazur

The article discusses problems of current and development of new, alternative sources of power used for small unmanned aerial vehicles.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 4856
Author(s):  
Hae-Sol Lee ◽  
Myeong-Hwan Hwang ◽  
Hyun-Rok Cha

As unmanned aerial vehicles expand their utilization and coverage, research is in progress to develop low-weight and high-performance motors to efficiently carry out various missions. An electromagnetic field interior permanent magnet (IPM) motor was designed and analyzed in this study that improved the flight performance and flight duration of an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The output power and efficiency of a conventional commercial UAV motor were improved by designing an IPM motor of the same size, providing high power output and high-speed operation by securing high power density, wide speed range, and mechanical stiffness. The cooling performance and efficiency of the drive motor were improved without requiring a separate power source for cooling by introducing the helical-grooved self-cooling case, which has a low heat generation structure. Furthermore, the motor is oil-cooled through rotating power without a separate power source, reducing the weight of the UAV. The heat dissipation characteristics were verified by fabricating a prototype and taking actual measurements to verify the validity of the heat dissipation characteristics. The results of this study are expected to improve the flight duration and performance of UAVs and contribute to the efficiency of the design of a UAV drive motor.


Aviation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leszek Cwojdziński ◽  
Mirosław Adamski

One of the major tasks in the process of designing future unmanned aerial vehicles is the appropriate choice of a propulsion system and a power source. Depending on the role and size of a given UAV, the following engines are used: electric, jet, turbine and piston (combustion). The following paper also analyses the faultiness of UAVs. Moreover, the most appropriate propulsion systems and power sources depending on the type and description of the mission performed by a UAV are recommended.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 675
Author(s):  
Magdalena Dudek ◽  
Bartłomiej Lis ◽  
Andrzej Raźniak ◽  
Mariusz Krauz ◽  
Michał Kawalec

Two types of air-cooled modular polymer membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) stacks with full equipment were constructed and investigated as components of hybrid power sources. The first, a 2-kW PEMFC stack, was assembled from two 1-kW PEMFC modules electrically connected in parallel and compared with a commercial PEMFC stack built from one 2-kW PEMFC module. The second, a 500-W PEMFC stack, was assembled with three modules connected in parallel. It was found that the two-module PEMFC stack was capable of operation with nominal power of 2 kW. Analysis of the distribution of the air cooling system in both modules was also conducted. The two-module PEMFC stack reduced hydrogen consumption compared to the reference 2-kW PEMFC stack consisting of only one module. The elaborated two-module PEMFC stack was successfully tested in a propulsion system designed to supply an electrical engine with a propeller. The electrical performance of the three-module PEMFC stack was tested separately as well as in a hybrid system in connection with a 5 s Li-Pol battery. It was found that the elaborated PEMFC stack was capable of operation with nominal power of 500 W and variable rapid dynamic electrical loads. It was also successfully tested as a power source to supply servomechanisms and other auxiliary devices.


Author(s):  
Olek Wojnar ◽  
Eric D. Swenson ◽  
Gregory W. Reich

Based on current capabilities, we examine the feasibility of creating a carbohydrate-based regenerative fuel cell (CRFC) as the primary power source for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for long endurance missions where station keeping is required. The CRFC power system evaluated in this research is based on a closed-loop construct where carbohydrates are generated from zooxanthellae, algae which create excess carbohydrates during photosynthesis. The carbohydrates are then fed to a carbohydrate fuel cell where electric power is generated for the UAV’s propulsion, flight control, payload, and accessory systems. The waste products from the fuel cell, carbon dioxide and water, are used by the zooxanthellae to create more carbohydrates, therefore mass is conserved in the process of power generation. The overall goal of this research is to examine the potential of CRFCs as a viable power source for UAV systems, to look at scaling issues related to different vehicle sizes and missions, and to identify sensitivities in the CRFC system to different system parameters, indicating the areas where technology improvements may make CRFCs a viable technology. Through simulations, a UAV is sized to determine if greater than 24 hour endurance flight is possible and these results are compared to UAVs using more traditional photo-cell based power systems. The initial results suggest that CRFCs have potential as a power system for long endurance UAVs, and could offer significant improvements to the overall system performance. The final outcome of this research is to identify the most important areas for more detailed follow-on work in designing a production-ready CRFC power system for long endurance UAVs.


Author(s):  
A. S. Abufanas ◽  
A. A. Lobaty ◽  
Y. F. Yacina

The problem of analytical synthesis of a control signal by a linear dynamical system is considered. As an optimization criterion, it is proposed to consider the transition time of the system from the initial state to a given final state. This type of control is called forced, providing the maximum system speed. The principle of solving this problem is considered on the basis of application of uncertain Lagrange multipliers and the Pontryagin maximum principle. Expressions are obtained for the matrix of transitions of the system and the control signal in a vector form.As an example, the electric drive described by the widespread second-order mathematical model is considered to evaluate the efficiency of the proposed method. Qualitative illustrations of the operability of the proposed approach, obtained by modeling in the Mathcad environment, and quantitative characteristics of the change in the input and output signals of the hypothetical control system are presented. It is shown that the use of forced control does not lead to the output of variables characterizing the state of the system, beyond the limits of admissible values.The use of forced control makes it possible to synthesize the control law in the form of a sequence of rectangular pulses of constant amplitude determined by the power source, variable duty cycle and polarity. This approach can be used for the control of DC-type DC motors used in various tracking systems used on unmanned aerial vehicles. Key words: forced control, target function, electric drive, pulse train. The use of forced control makes it possible to synthesize the control law in the form of a sequence of rectangular pulses of constant amplitude determined by the power source, variable duty cycle and polarity. This approach can be used for the control of DC-type DC motors used in various tracking systems used on unmanned aerial vehicles.


Author(s):  
A.A. Moykin ◽  
◽  
A.S. Medzhibovsky ◽  
S.A. Kriushin ◽  
M.V. Seleznev ◽  
...  

Nowadays, the creation of remotely-piloted aerial vehicles for various purposes is regarded as one of the most relevant and promising trends of aircraft development. FAU "25 State Research Institute of Chemmotology of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation" have studied the operation features of aircraft piston engines and developed technical requirements for motor oil for piston four-stroke UAV engines, as well as a new engine oil M-5z/20 AERO in cooperation with NPP KVALITET, LLC. Based on the complex of qualification tests, the stated operational properties of the experimental-industrial batch of M-5z/20 AERO oil are generally confirmed.


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