Increasing flight endurance of MAVs using multiple quantum well solar cells

Abstract

Micro Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) are useful devices to assess new features that may be utilized in a full size aircraft to enhance performance or to increase endurance. In this article, sources for energy saving in the micro air vehicles are initially addressed. Then, by specifying the important parameters on energy consumption of an aircraft, a feasibility study is conducted to assess the benefit of using solar cells to increase flight endurance. Next, a new solar cell has been designed and optimized for MAVs. This cell consists of a multiple quantum wells for which the quantum factor and the absorption coefficient are calculated by solving the Shrodinger equation using MATLAB software. Then, the manner and influence of MAVs parameters using the solar cells are examined to suggest optimal planform for different purposes. In order to increase flight endurance, it is noted that by using appropriate planform and the optimized solar cells, flight endurance can be increased by more than 30 percent. © The Korean Society for Aeronautical & Space Sciences.