SINCHDrone Technology Demonstration UAV Hybrid Incorporating Power Regeneration Technologies & Weight Minimization

In this paper, an in-flight power regeneration and structural battery integration approach were employed to increase the endurance, range, and therefore mission capability of a VTOL (Vertical Takeoff and Landing) fixed-wing UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) by a multidisciplinary student team in California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. The average flight time for a UAV drone has a maximum flight time of 30 minutes, limiting the number of applications that can be used. Although military drones have flight time measured in hours, their cost, size, and complexity eliminate them from commercial use even after they may be retired from military use. Project BANSHEE’s overarching goal is to increase the range and endurance of a UAV in a compact and economical manner. This is to be achieved by the integration of power generation and storage equipment into the load-bearing structure of the airframe. Doing so will decrease the parasitic weight from external components and extend the battery life of the craft, allowing for longer flight time. Modifications to currently available drones such as the Storm4 are being made in order to perform autonomous flight plans and in the future: return to home base when battery is low, exchange depleted battery with new one while maintaining power through induction charging.