A Power Budget Analysis of an Electrical Uncrewed Air Vehicle (UAV) Flying a Basic Mission Profile

The aim of this paper is to determine the feasibility of developing a medium sized Uncrewed Air Vehicle, of 4.4m wingspan, for flight-testing electrical motors, drive units and ancillary equipment. The objectives of this initial study were to select a candidate airframe for the purpose of conducting this initial analysis, to define a mission profile that would enable the safe autonomous flight to be achieved and to estimate the power required for each of the flight phases of the mission and the electrical current consumption. The results were assessed to determine whether such an endeavour could be achieved using existing lithium-ion battery technology and to provide information about the flight endurance that could be expected of such an aircraft. In conducting this study an aircraft weight breakdown analysis has been accomplished and wing geometry and performance characteristics have been established. The outcome of the study indicated that a test UAV could be successfully designed and constructed which would enable practical autonomous flying of basic flight circuits to be conducted at a designated airfield, although it would have limited flight endurance.