Long Endurance and Continuous Flight UAVs – Model-Based Design Approach

The main problem of UAVs is the limited flight time. However, it is possible to extend the duration of the flight by using renewable energy sources. By means of model-based design methods, it is achievable to quantitatively assess the possibility of increasing the flight duration even to unlimited flight duration. The article presents three examples of a method for determining the potential to increase flight endurance, particularly with solar power supply. Numerical research and simulations are supported by the results of laboratory tests of demonstrators developed as part of the conducted research.