Exploiting solar energy during an aerial mapping mission on a lightweight UAV

Hrovatin, Dejan (avtor), Žemva, Andrej (avtor)

In this study, we present options for extending the endurance of a lightweight unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), along with their advantages and disadvantages. We present a developed solution based on the use of gallium–arsenide (GaAs) solar modules installed on a UAV and connected to a custom-made maximum power point tracker (MPPT) with an integrated perturb and observe (P&O) algorithm. The mathematical behavior required to calculate the electrical energy production from solar energy on the UAV from known UAV angles of rotation, the position of the sun in the sky, solar irradiance measurements, the solar module area and the solar modules efficiency is presented. A comparison of the calculated and actual measured electrical energy production results during an aerial mapping mission is presented. We perform a number of aerial mapping mission flights and the experimental results confirm an energy efficiency value of more than 96.27% for the MPPT and extended flight endurance by up to 21.25%. In addition, onboard measurements and other data captured during flights confirm the proposed electrical energy production calculation.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV, solar energy, solar cells, endurance extension, maximum power point tracker, MPPT, electrical energy, rotation matrix, green energy
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: FE - Fakulteta za elektrotehniko
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2021
• Št. strani: 21 str.
• Številčenje: Vol. 10, iss. 22, art. 2876
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-136714
• UDK: 629.014.9:502.21:523.9
• ISSN pri članku: 2079-9292
• DOI: 10.3390/electronics10222876
• COBISS.SI-ID: 86024451
• Datum objave v RUL: 17.05.2022

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Electronics
• Skrajšan naslov: Electronics
• Založnik: MDPI
• ISSN: 2079-9292
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523068953

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.
• Začetek licenciranja: 22.11.2021

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: brezpilotna letala, sončna energija, sončne celice, podaljšanje avtonomije, sledenje točki največje moči

Projekti

• Financer: ARRS - Agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P2-0197
• Naslov: Fotovoltaika in elektronika