Energy Autonomy Simulation Model of Solar Powered UAV

Krzysztof Mateja (), Wojciech Skarka (), Magdalena Peciak, Roman Niestrój and Maik Gude
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Krzysztof Mateja: Department of Fundamentals of Machinery Design, Silesian University of Technology, Stanisława Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Wojciech Skarka: Department of Fundamentals of Machinery Design, Silesian University of Technology, Stanisława Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Magdalena Peciak: Department of Fundamentals of Machinery Design, Silesian University of Technology, Stanisława Konarskiego 18A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Roman Niestrój: SkyTech eLab LLC, Stanisława Konarskiego 18C, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Maik Gude: Institute of Lightweight Engineering and Polymer Technology, Technische Universitat Dresden, Holbeinstraße 3, 01307 Dresden, Germany

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-31

Abstract: The energy autonomy of UAVs is an important direction in the field of aerospace. Long-endurance aerial vehicles allow for continuous flight; however, to meet the guidelines, the power supply system has to be able to harvest energy from outside. Solar cells allow the production of electricity during the day when the sun shines on their surface. Depending on the location, time, weather, and other external factors, the energy produced by PV panels will change. In order to calculate as accurately as possible the energy obtained by solar cells, we developed a simulation model that took into account all of the external restrictions and the UAV’s limits during flight. The conducted analysis made it possible to obtain information for the specific input data on whether the UAV is able to fly for 24 h in a specific flight scenario. The UAV powered by solar cells developed by us and the performed aviation missions have shown that the UAV is capable of continuous flight without the need to land.

Keywords: renewable energy; solar cell; Model-Based Design; energy harvesting; energy autonomy; UAV power supply system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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