As we know that larger the battery capacity, the longer your drone can function in one single charge of it. Small drones are normally best suited for 20 to 30 minutes flight.Our requirements are beyond this i.e longer flight on a single charge.
So what are the possible ways to overcome this issues and to prolong the flight of a small drone?
Check which components of your drone is taking up a larger share of current from your battery. Redesign that circuit/simulate circuit characteristics and then implement.
- Replace (parts of the) payload with battery.
- Optimize the efficiency of all components.
- One might also think about lighter structural components (usually from "high-tech", expensive materials).
- Anything that reduces the overall weight. Or at least the "dead weight" - to allow for a bigger battery.
- If feasible: using a battery system with higher energy density.
Anyway, if your current design is somehow "reasonable": don't expect to gain much.
Hi,
Battery life can be extended by
1. Charging the battery at right time in a proper way (Charge it when it is at 40% and stop charging When it is at 80%).
2. Keeping the weight of the drone propeller at an acceptable minimum level.
3. Using a bigger but lighter battery.
4. Removing unwanted components (For example: If taking pictures is not so important then remove the camera).
5. Choosing a battery having higher energy density.
6. Charging battery externally gives three times better result than built in charger.
However, Please try to keep the total drone weight as low as possible and try to use upgraded components if possible.
Best Wishes
Thank you all of you.
I am more interested in things like some constant charging device that dont let the battery down.
Kindly guide me if there exist solution like that.
Some "range extender"? One might think about an onboard fuel cell.
Anyway, as chemical energy density is much higher than that for any battery: moving to some combustion engine design (significantly bigger and heavier) would change things. But your initial question implied you wanted to stay with the electrically powered system.
Dear Khan M. Asghar
"I am more interested in things like some constant charging device that dont let the battery down."
This can happen if:
- You have a battery that is charged by nuclear decay during a flight;
- You have a battery that is charged by a chemical reaction during a flight (burning hydrogen, fuel cells or some other);
and
- this battery can generate the output power you need to have a beneficial effect.
For all these suggestions there are solutions, the question is what finances can be allocated to your goal.
And another - You have a battery that is charged by electromagnetic energy (refer to N. Tesla's patents) that can be extracted from space. Which is also not to be ignored :-)
Dear Mr. Khan,
Apart from the above mentioned methods, you can also think of energy harvesting techniques for constant charging the battery during flight. Energy harvesting sensors along with battery management circuit can help to avoid complete drain of battery. Selection of sensors purely depends on the available energy sources in your application. Also, a power budget analysis is suggested before the design. Attached link may be helpful.
http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7838931/
Volvo is one of several car manufacturers that have put money into R&D of carbon fiber body panels with embedded nan-structured batteries and super capacitors. I would think building the battery into the frame of your quadcopter would reduce weight and possibly increase the energy density.
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