Advanced Algorithms for Autonomous Guidance of Solar-powered UAVs

TL;DR

This paper discusses the development of advanced algorithms to enhance the autonomous guidance of solar-powered UAVs, aiming to extend flight duration and improve operational efficiency in various applications.

Contribution

It introduces novel guidance algorithms specifically designed for solar-powered UAVs to optimize their flight paths and energy usage.

Findings

Improved flight time through optimized guidance algorithms

Enhanced energy efficiency in solar-powered UAVs

Potential for broader UAV applications with extended endurance

Abstract

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) techniques have developed rapidly within the past few decades. Using UAVs provides benefits in numerous applications such as site surveying, communication systems, parcel delivery, target tracking, etc. The high manoeuvrability of the drone and its ability to replace a certain amount of labour cost are the reasons why it can be widely chosen. There will be more applications of UAVs if they can have longer flight time, which is a very challenging hurdle because of the energy constraint of the onboard battery. One promising solution is to equip UAVs with some lightweight solar panels to maximize flight time. Therefore, more research is needed for solar-powered UAVs (SUAVs) in different environments.