Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System
The development of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the propulsion system to minimize energy consumption during the conversion of valuable solar energy. However, due to the unique nature of UAV propulsion systems, there is limited cross-r...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-10-01
|
| Series: | Energies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7110 |
| _version_ | 1797573979136851968 |
|---|---|
| author | Qing Guo Minghao Qiu Xiaoqiang Li Wen Sun Zihua Guo |
| author_facet | Qing Guo Minghao Qiu Xiaoqiang Li Wen Sun Zihua Guo |
| author_sort | Qing Guo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the propulsion system to minimize energy consumption during the conversion of valuable solar energy. However, due to the unique nature of UAV propulsion systems, there is limited cross-reference ability among existing solar-powered UAV systems. This paper proposes an integrated design approach for the propulsion system and UAV structure. Based on this approach, an overall design is conducted for the solar-powered UAV, including initial design goals and performance parameters. Aerodynamic layout design and performance estimation are carried out, and a prototype is fabricated and assembled for flight testing validation. The results demonstrate the significant importance of this approach in improving the efficiency of the solar-powered UAV propulsion system. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9aeac10540af48bdba63ab85ae44d48b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T21:16:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-9aeac10540af48bdba63ab85ae44d48b2023-11-19T16:22:18ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732023-10-011620711010.3390/en16207110Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion SystemQing Guo0Minghao Qiu1Xiaoqiang Li2Wen Sun3Zihua Guo4School of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaSchool of Aeronautics, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaThe development of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) primarily focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the propulsion system to minimize energy consumption during the conversion of valuable solar energy. However, due to the unique nature of UAV propulsion systems, there is limited cross-reference ability among existing solar-powered UAV systems. This paper proposes an integrated design approach for the propulsion system and UAV structure. Based on this approach, an overall design is conducted for the solar-powered UAV, including initial design goals and performance parameters. Aerodynamic layout design and performance estimation are carried out, and a prototype is fabricated and assembled for flight testing validation. The results demonstrate the significant importance of this approach in improving the efficiency of the solar-powered UAV propulsion system.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7110solar-powered UAVintegrated designaerodynamic optimization designflight testing |
| spellingShingle | Qing Guo Minghao Qiu Xiaoqiang Li Wen Sun Zihua Guo Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System Energies solar-powered UAV integrated design aerodynamic optimization design flight testing |
| title | Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System |
| title_full | Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System |
| title_fullStr | Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System |
| title_short | Integrated Design and Flight Validation of Solar-Powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Structure and Propulsion System |
| title_sort | integrated design and flight validation of solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle uav structure and propulsion system |
| topic | solar-powered UAV integrated design aerodynamic optimization design flight testing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/16/20/7110 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT qingguo integrateddesignandflightvalidationofsolarpoweredunmannedaerialvehicleuavstructureandpropulsionsystem AT minghaoqiu integrateddesignandflightvalidationofsolarpoweredunmannedaerialvehicleuavstructureandpropulsionsystem AT xiaoqiangli integrateddesignandflightvalidationofsolarpoweredunmannedaerialvehicleuavstructureandpropulsionsystem AT wensun integrateddesignandflightvalidationofsolarpoweredunmannedaerialvehicleuavstructureandpropulsionsystem AT zihuaguo integrateddesignandflightvalidationofsolarpoweredunmannedaerialvehicleuavstructureandpropulsionsystem |