For Long Endurance

Deryn Chu⁽¹⁾, Rongzhong Jiang⁽¹⁾, Zachary Dunbar⁽¹⁾ and Kevin Chu⁽²⁾

1. U. S. Army Research Laboratory

   2800 Powder Mill Rd., Adelphi, MD 20783-1107

2. U. S. Army CERDEC. CP&I/Power Division

5100 Magazine Rd.

Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21005

Small unmanned aerial systems (SUASs) have great potential for many different applications ^(1-3). The SUASs are light-weight, man-portable, and capable of carrying payloads. SUASs can be broadly classified by their performance characteristics such as engine type, weight, speed, and endurance. Currently, small UASs are powered by lithium-ion or lithium polymer batteries; however, flight endurance is limited and requires frequent battery replacement. Frequent battery replacement is due to low capacity and energy density (less than 200Wh/Kg). Numerous research and development efforts have focused on alternative power sources. These alternative power sources include technologies such as solar cells and hydrogen based polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. Recently, a long endurance flight time for SUASs have been demonstrated through propane fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) systems. In this presentation, we address propane fueled SOFC to power a ~20lbs unmanned aerial system for 8hrs (4x improvements over the competing battery technology).

Reference:

1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU

2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98BIu9dpwHU&feature=player_detailpage

3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CYT4PFV_Hs