Unconventional UAV

• Main Author: Sai, Roy Chang Kung.
• Other Authors: School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering::Aircraft
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/45241
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has become a popular topic of research and development. It has a lot of application which is unsuitable or too dangerous for manned vehicles. The purpose of this study is to introduce unconventional UAV that has improved performance. Both indoor UAV and outdoor UAV will be discussed in this report. Indoor UAV requires high agility and maneuverability to maneuver around obstacles; while outdoor UAV need to fly at high altitude with long endurance. The first part of the report will focus mainly on a solar UAV. Conventionally, thin film solar cells are used as the renewable energy source. The feasibility and methods to replace thin film solar cells with crystalline solar cells will be discussed. The effect of differential voltage output from each module will be examined in detail. The calculations and estimations show that solar UAV as UAV with limitless endurance is possible. Efficiency is the key factor for long endurance, since the area available for the solar cell attachment is limited. A good energy storage system is required for night flight as well.