Solar powered UAV - solar power system : environmental testing for materials at sub-zero temperature

• Main Author: Ng, Andy Siyuan.
• Other Authors: Ng Heong Wah
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Aeronautical engineering::Aircraft
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/54152
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have been used for a number of years and in recent years, increased in usage rapidly due to many factors. As a result, much interest has been paid to the development of new UAVs. The idea of solar powered UAVs is relatively new and several organisations have developed working prototypes. This project is a collaboration between NTU and DSO to develop a solar power UAV which is capable of at least 24 hours of continuous flight. The design of the UAV will be analysed and refined based on the work done by the previous batch of students. One of the main system would be the solar energy system. This system would have to be thoroughly designed in order to ensure sufficient energy to power the other systems in the UAV and to provide the batteries with energy for the night segment. A mass study of the solar energy system has been conducted to reduce the mass of the system in order to meet the mass budget set by the team. The materials used in cell encapsulation are meant for use at sea level and its suitability at cruise altitude will have to be determined via tests. The results will then be used by the other teams as a guideline for design. This three year project is currently in its second year and a prototype will be built at the end of the third year and flight tests will be conducted at Kanpur, India.