Enhancing the Flight Endurance and Autonomy of Multirotor UAVs Using Solar Power

This paper is focused on improving the flight endurance of a multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by utilizing a solar-battery hybrid energy system. This arrangement imparts energy autonomy to the system and in this study, an increase in endurance is achieved in real-world conditions. To achieve this result, an integrated design framework is introduced with the aim of sequencing the subsystem design with consideration for the interplay between the subsystems such that predefined performance specifications can be attained. This systematic approach was implemented in this study to realize a prototype solar-powered quadrotor which was subsequently tested outdoors successfully. The significant increase in the flight endurance of the multirotor solar-powered UAV achieved in this article, presents an opportunity for increased scope for commercial and industrial applications.