Exploiting solar energy during an aerial mapping mission on a lightweight UAV

Dejan Hrovatin (Author), Andrej Žemva (Author)

Abstract

In this study, we present options for extending the endurance of a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), along with their advantages and disadvantages. We present a developed solution based on the use of gallium–arsenide (GaAs) solar modules installed on a UAV and connected to a custom-made maximum power point tracker (MPPT) with an integrated perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm. The mathematical behavior required to calculate the electrical energy production from solar energy on the UAV from known UAV angles of rotation, the position of the sun in the sky, solar irradiance measurements, the solar module area and the solar modules efficiency is presented. A comparison of the calculated and actual measured electrical energy production results during an aerial mapping mission is presented. We perform a number of aerial mapping mission flights and the experimental results confirm an energy efficiency value of more than 96.27% for the MPPT and extended flight endurance by up to 21.25%. In addition, onboard measurements and other data captured during flights confirm the proposed electrical energy production calculation.

Keywords

brezpilotna letala;sončna energija;sončne celice;podaljšanje avtonomije;sledenje točki največje moči;unmanned aerial vehicle;UAV;solar energy;solar cells;endurance extension;maximum power point tracker;

Data

Language:	English
Year of publishing:	2021
Typology:	1.01 - Original Scientific Article
Organization:	UL FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
UDC:	629.014.9:502.21:523.9
COBISS:	86024451
ISSN:	2079-9292
Views:	101
Downloads:	34
Average score:	0 (0 votes)
Metadata:

Other data

Secondary language:	Slovenian
Secondary keywords:	brezpilotna letala;sončna energija;sončne celice;podaljšanje avtonomije;sledenje točki največje moči;
Type (COBISS):	Article
Pages:	str. 1-23
Volume:	ǂiss. ǂ22
Issue:	2876
Chronology:	Nov.-2 2021
DOI:	10.3390/electronics10222876
ID:	15337765