Development of a solar powered multirotor micro aerial vehicle

Area of Science:

• Aerospace Engineering
• Renewable Energy Systems

Background:

• Rotary-wing aerial vehicles offer VTOL and maneuverability but face limitations in flight time due to high energy demands.
• Advancements in photovoltaic technology have enabled the development of solar-powered aircraft, including micro variants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of commercially available photovoltaic cells to increase the energy autonomy of multi-rotor micro aerial vehicles (MAVs).
• To enable MAVs to operate in the field for extended periods without returning to base for recharging.

Main Methods:

• Design and construction of a solar-rechargeable radio-controlled micro aerial vehicle (Micro Solarcopter).
• Integration of a battery management system, automatic power controls, and a low-power sleep mode.
• Testing of photovoltaic cell performance for MAV energy autonomy.

Main Results:

• The Micro Solarcopter (0.071 kg) achieved an average flight time of 3.5 minutes.
• The aircraft can recharge in approximately 68 minutes under specific solar irradiance conditions (1000 W/m², 25°C).
• The MAV demonstrated a hibernation capability of up to 38 days without sunlight.

Conclusions:

• Commercially available photovoltaic cells can be effectively utilized to enhance the energy autonomy of multi-rotor MAVs.
• The developed prototype demonstrates a viable solution for extended field operations of solar-powered MAVs.
• The integration of power management features contributes to improved operational efficiency and endurance.