Hi,
It looks like a few people have tried, and sometimes have found success, in making completely solar-powered drones. As someone with little drone making experience, how can I expect to replicate this and make a similarly fully-solar powered drone?
Replies
"The drone would take the energy stored from the day and use it in the night. It needs to be in the air with as little downtime as possible
Not feasible idea since you are limited by a size, weight and capacity of the drone installed battery.
Just make basic calculations, baased on power consumption of installed motors
"And the drone will only have to hover for long periods of time (ideally, perpetually)
Just make basic maths
Tethering is the only known solution to your problem.
Get relevant threads at diydrones from the past
BTW
For solar charging at day time you can employ induction charging station powered by ground based solar panel,
getting boost in flight time, having removed solar payload from the drone.
The drone would take the energy stored from the day and use it in the night. It needs to be in the air with as little downtime as possible, and as you mentioned, solar energy can power the drone during the day and even give additional power to be stored for later. And the drone will only have to hover for long periods of time (ideally, perpetually) so energy usage is low compared to one in directional motion.
This is a question for anybody viewing the thread with some experience: what are the first steps to making this drone? I would like to make a working prototype by the end of this summer (the start of Sep). If anyone is willing to mentor me or just give me any sort of guidance, please leave a comment on my profile so we can get in touch
Thanks!
Also thank you D J for your response
d j said:
What is hot about PV today is printed solar PV film
Two years ago price was prohibitive
https://infinitypv.com/shop/solar-cells/1m-110mm-bidirectional-sola...
offers 2-3% efficiency PV foil for edu, demo
there is just another company, claiming 20% efficiency
They are on the move to a new location but I will try to call them to give you latest info on their products
BTW
Tell me why the night operated drone should be made with solar cells ?
"In theory you are right but in practice you don't need extra solar payload if the drone should be operated through the night"
could you expand on that thought Darius? I would be very interested in your solar film details, please post the link. The modern solar films I work with only output low mA, not practical for aircraft unless you use cutting edge, very large and lightweight aircraft structures and high performance airfoils.
"Though if I need the drone to work through the night, I will need a battery, right?
In theory you are right but in practice you don't need extra solar payload if the drone should be operated through the night
Though if I need the drone to work through the night, I will need a battery, right? Also, I just mainly need the drone to move to a place and hover for its entire flight time (and then move back to base). Will also need to add an infrared sensor.
Do you have any recommendations for pv foil?
d j said:
It's easy to build solar drone today since thin film powerful and lightweight solar PV foil is available today
So you just laminate the wing with powerful PV foil/film
Today we can make solar PV cell to fly finally.
Modern PV foil is highly efficient and a nice idea is to have to your drone to fly batteryless
since you get more continuous energy supply from PV than demanded by engines, making your drone really lightweight project
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