Impact Analysis of Solar Cells on Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) Fixed-Wing UAV

Abstract

A vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) is a type of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that allows for flight in harsh weather for surveillance and access to remote areas. VTOL can be performed without a runway. As such, VOTL UAVs are used in areas where there is limited space and in urban locations. The structural endurance of VTOL UAVs is limited and is further reduced in the case of fixed-wing UAVs. Long-endurance aerial vehicles allow for continuous flight, but their power supply systems must be able to harvest energy from external sources in order to meet the guidelines. The wings of these UAVs are often covered with solar cells. This article presents the extended range and flight time of a tail-sitter VTOL that incorporates solar cells on the UAV structure. A VTOL powered by solar cells can perform aviation missions with fewer landings, allowing for the performance of such UAVs to be increased and for their flight time to be extended several times over those without solar cells. Simulations accounting for the use of PV panels on the UAV structure show that depending on the scenario and flight date, VTOLs can double the flight time on the spring equinox and increase the flight time by more than six times on the summer solstice.

Integrated Aircraft Design System Based on Generative Modelling

“…Particular attention was paid to the systematic and structural approach for constructing generative models, emphasising the structure of the model and the data related to the models and providing great flexibility in the application of the models and their reusability. This allows for easy integration not only with the analytical methods for design verification presented in this article but also with the high-fidelity simulation methods commonly used in design based on finite element methods (FEMs), together with more systematic design methods such as model-based design [21], developed in aircraft design [22], as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) [22,23].…”

State-of-Charge Trajectory Planning for Low-Altitude Solar-Powered Convertible UAV by Driven Modes

“…Solar-powered UAVs have attracted worldwide attention due to their advantages such as environmental protection, zero fuel consumption, long endurance and low noise [1][2][3][4][5][6]. Low-altitude SCUAV is a type of electric UAV that combines the advantages of the solar-powered fixed-wing UAV and the rotorcraft, which can realize the task requirements of vertical takeoff and landing, long endurance and multiple hovers [7][8][9]. The development of the SCUAV will provide a more flexible and highly efficient unmanned flight platform because higher resolution imaging in aerial photogrammetry, protective detection and careful observation of wildlife, as well as its study, have theoretical significance and applicable value.…”

HPPC Test Methodology Using LFP Battery Cell Identification Tests as an Example

“…The model-based design (MBD) method [1,2] was used to create numerical models of vehicle subassemblies in order to test them by means of simulation. The MBD method is frequently used to design vehicles and mobile robots [3], as well as to design manned and unmanned aerial vehicles [4,5]. The practical importance of model-based techniques in energy storage analysis and design is also underlined in [6][7][8][9][10].…”