Design and analysis of solar-powered VTOL aircraft system for surveillance

Design and analysis of solar-powered VTOL aircraft system for surveillance

Isha Likhite1, Sadhvi Chaubey2, Sakshi Kolekar3, Yogini Chaudhari4

1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai, India

2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai, India

3Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai, India

4Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Mumbai, India

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Abstract - UAVs today are used for a variety of applications, from recreational aviation to advanced world defense. Aside from a host of applications, modern UAVs are plagued by the age-old problem of limited range, due to battery power. Studies have suggested that more energy is used between the vertical departure phase and the arrival phase. To reduce this, the potential solution can be used in the form of VTOL UAVs introduced into the air. This may reduce the energy lost during direct and indirect climbs and this effectively increases the range. Along with this using a solar powered aircraft will take us towards a sustainable option. In this paper, we did the analysis, calculations and market research of the propulsion system and proposed the best combination of electronics required for the successful flight of a UAV. The design and evaluation of a wing are presented in this paper with combination of solar and battery power. We also aimed at building a vertically launching aircraft to save power. The presented wing is capable of producing a lift of 7kg and can be used for a surveillance aircraft.

Key Words: solar-powered, VTOL, aircraft, lift, drag, payload, surveillance