INTEGRATED PIEZOELECTRIC AND FLEXIBLE SOLAR SYSTEMS FOR ENHANCING INFLIGHT OPERATION TIME OF SMALL UAV
Keywords:
Power generation, piezoelectric, solar panel, renewable energy, unmanned air vehiclesAbstract
This paper proposes the design of an inflight power generation system applicable to small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To extend the flight range and battery usage, the alternative power supply should be produced by multiple sources during flight, including bending movement, air pressure, vibration, and sunlight. Such sources of renewable energy can be summed and used during flight operations. The air pressure and vibration experiencing the UAV surface are captured by piezoelectric devices installed at the leading edge. This is a suitable location where the most air pressure/strain occurs. A flexible solar panel is installed at the top of the UAV wing to increase the capability of energy harvesting. A maximum power point tracking (MPPT) board is applied to adjust the input voltage and transform the harvested power to the battery voltage requirement under various load conditions. Subsequently, the power from renewable sources is summed together to help the battery for powering the operation of the UAV propeller. The flight test results have shown the effectiveness of the designed strategy that the small UAV can power itself during the flight, resulting in a longer flight operation time of about 35%.
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