In the rapidly evolving world of drone technology, a groundbreaking study led by Nusin Akram from the International Computer Institute at Ege University in İzmir, Türkiye, is shedding new light on the energy consumption and flight time of micro drones. Published in the journal “IEEE Access” (which translates to “IEEE Open Access”), the research offers valuable insights that could significantly impact the energy sector and beyond.
Micro drones, with their palm-sized dimensions, have opened up new possibilities for navigating confined spaces and reaching inaccessible areas. However, their small size poses a significant challenge: limited battery capacity. “Increasing the flight time of micro drones using limited energy sources is a challenging task that requires advanced hardware technologies and efficient software methods,” Akram explains.
To tackle this issue, Akram and her team developed a voltage-based regression model to estimate the energy consumption and flight time of micro drones. The model uses sampled voltage data obtained from experimental evaluations in various flying modes, including ground, take-off, hovering, and flying. The results are impressive, with a mean absolute error of less than 0.3 V for all flying modes.
The study found that during a 150-second flight test, the estimated total energy consumption was 2000 J, corresponding to an average power of 13.3 W. The unit mass power consumption was calculated as 0.38 W/g, highlighting the suitability of miniature UAVs for energy-constrained tasks. Notably, the experiments showed that due to the voltage drop of the batteries, the drones could no longer fly when the battery energy dropped to about 50% of the total battery capacity.
These findings underscore the importance of lightweight, high-capacity batteries for developing micro drones. As Akram notes, “These results emphasize the importance of lightweight high capacity batteries for developing micro drones.”
The implications of this research are far-reaching. For the energy sector, understanding the energy consumption patterns of micro drones can lead to the development of more efficient and sustainable energy solutions. For instance, the insights gained from this study could inform the design of better batteries and power management systems, ultimately extending the flight time of micro drones and enhancing their capabilities.
Moreover, the research could pave the way for new applications of micro drones in various industries, from environmental monitoring to infrastructure inspection. By optimizing energy consumption, these tiny drones could become even more versatile and valuable tools.
As the field of drone technology continues to evolve, studies like Akram’s are crucial for pushing the boundaries of what is possible. By providing a deeper understanding of the energy dynamics of micro drones, this research is set to shape future developments and open up new opportunities for innovation.