Abstract
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) propulsion technology is significantly related to the flight performance of UAVs, which has become one of the most important development directions of aviation. It should be noted that UAVs have three types of propulsion systems, namely the fuel, hybrid fuel-electric, and pure electric, respectively. This paper presents and discusses the classification, working principles, characteristics, and critical technologies of these three types of propulsion systems. It is helpful to establish the development framework of the UAV propulsion system and provide the essential information on electric propulsion UAVs. Additionally, future technologies and development, including the high-power density motors, converters, power supplies, are discussed for the electric propulsion UAVs. In the near future, the electric propulsion system would be widely used in UAVs. The high-power density system would become the development trend of electric UAVs. Thus, this review article provides comprehensive views and multiple comparisons of propulsion systems for UAVs.
Highlights
In recent years, with the development of artificial intelligence technology and microprocessor technology, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) have received increasing attention as a type of aerial robot that can perform complex tasks [1]
It is known from the system structure that the engine is undoubtedly the core of the fuel propulsion system, playing the role of energy conversion and UAV power supply [49]
The most important feature of the series hybrid propulsion system is that the engine does not directly provide the power needed by the UAV but drives the generator to generate electrical energy, which in turn drives the electric motor to work and drives the fan rotation to generate power; its structure is shown in Figure 12 [37,88]
Summary
With the development of artificial intelligence technology and microprocessor technology, UAVs have received increasing attention as a type of aerial robot that can perform complex tasks [1]. Is capable of autonomously sector, UAVs are more widely used in agriculture monitoring, urban cargo transportation, striking enemy radars It can disrupt enemy detection and communication systems [25], communication and relay, disaster monitoring, and firefighting with their low cost and and the UK’s Taranis stealth UAV can perform surveillance and reconnaissance missions safety features [27,28,29]. Source device and has the advantages of low carbon emissions, low pollution, low cost, While the pure electric UAV propulsion system uses only electric motors as the and high energy utilization [38]. Electric propulsion UAVs often use high-energy-density permanent magnet motors as power output devices. Tially reduce mission costs usually consist of energy, control systems, power propulsion systems,UAV communicaA UAV platform is aflight critical part of mission execution, and general vehicles. Ease of control [48].of their high efficiency, high energy density, high reliability, high source devices because speed, and ease of control [48]
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