Design and application of attitude/energy coupling experimental teaching platform for solar-powered UAVs
[Objective]Solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles(UAVs)utilize solar energy as their main power source,converting sunlight into electricity via solar cells on their wings.The energy state of these UAVs is influenced by external environmental factors and flight behaviors,such as changes in the environment over space and time,the UAV's flight position and attitude angles,and the coupling effect of maximum power point tracking methods on power generation.The complex coupling mechanism between these factors is not adequately explained in existing literature,and there is a lack of experimental instruments and platforms that visualize this relationship.This paper introduces a low-cost and lightweight experimental platform designed to investigate the coupling relationship between flight attitude and energy state in solar-powered UAVs.[Methods]The platform is mainly composed of a three-axis turntable,a solar-powered UAV wing segment,a simulation model,and data interaction software.This platform can effectively simulate how changes in pitch,roll,and yaw attitude affect the power generation of solar wings.Through single-axis rotation experiments and multiaxis rotation experiments simulating flight attitudes,the system demonstrates how flight attitudes affect the efficiency of solar power generation,thereby revealing the coupling mechanism between flight attitude and energy state.Furthermore,the platform features autonomous irradiance sensing and tracking control of the maximum power point of solar wings.A maximum power point tracking controller is integrated to dynamically adjust the working state of the battery panel,optimizing energy output under different irradiance and attitude conditions.The platform compares the constant voltage method with the perturbation observation method,evaluating their respective impacts on solar power efficiency.[Results]Experimental results show that both flight time and attitude significantly affect the temperature and irradiance intensity on the wing surface.Within certain limits,higher temperatures correlate with improved photoelectric conversion efficiency.Various flight attitudes change the angle of sunlight incidence and the exposed area,thereby influencing the irradiance intensity.Increased irradiance allows solar cells to capture more photons,according to the photoelectric conversion principle of semiconductor materials,thereby generating more current and voltage and,consequently,more power.From the two sets of experimental data,power generation is positively correlated with irradiance intensity.When comparing control strategies,the perturbation observation method outperforms the constant voltage method.It flexibly responds to changes in irradiance intensity,adjusting the output voltage to keep the solar wing operating at its maximum power point,thereby achieving higher energy conversion efficiency and greater output power.[Conclusion]This experimental platform is suitable for student practical course teaching and easy to promote and apply.It serves as an invaluable tool to help students understand the performance characteristics of solar-powered UAVs in practical applications.By using this platform,students can conduct in-depth research on several important aspects:the energy conversion mechanism and efficiency,attitude control,and how different flight attitudes affect energy acquisition in solar-powered UAVs.This exploration enables them to optimize system design and improve flight energy efficiency.Overall,the solar-powered UAV attitude/energy coupling experimental teaching platform offers substantial value for research in solar-powered UAV design and energy management.
solar energyunmanned aerial vehicleflight simulationattitude/energy couplingexperimental teaching
万方数据
维普
