Power Sources for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: State - of - the Art Review

Magnesium-dissolved oxygen seawater batteries have open structures and flow seawater as electrolytes. These two features attract much attention. The cathode electrode is one of the key components that affect the performance of seawater batteries. In this study, seawater batteries with carbon cathodes made from three commercial carbons were investigated and discussed. The porous structure of the cathode was adjusted by changing the mass ratio between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and carbon materials. The binder ratios range from 10% to 50%. The structure of the different porous carbon cathodes was characterized, and the discharging performance was analyzed. Results showed that the number of pores with diameters of 2–10 nm decreased as the PTFE ratio increased. Meanwhile, as the PTFE ratio increased from 10% to 50%, the seawater battery discharging voltage and capacity were first inhibited when the PTFE ratio was less than 20% but then promoted. It revealed that a balance should be achieved between the number of reaction sites and the paths for oxygen transfer. Moreover, the oxygen transfer in the porous electrode is more important for batteries working in seawater. This study practically investigates seawater batteries with various PTFE binder ratios and provides a reference for the design of magnesium-dissolved oxygen seawater batteries.

Experimental Study of Discharging Magnesium-Dissolved Oxygen Seawater Batteries with Various Binder Ratios

Cao,

Li,

Wang

et al. 2023

Simple Ultrasonic-Based Localization System for Mobile Robots

Sukop,

Grytsiv,

Jánoš

et al. 2024

This paper presents the development and validation of a cost-efficient and uncomplicated real-time localization system (RTLS) for use in mobile robotics, specifically within indoor and storage environments. By harnessing ultrasonic waves to measure distances from three beacons, the system provides stable and reliable localization. This method utilizes the time-of-flight (TOF) principle, allowing for accurate distance calculations with simple microcontrollers. The system is designed to update the robot’s position at a frequency of at least 10 times per second, ensuring smooth navigation. Our trilateration-based approach allows for the precise determination of the robot’s position with a notable standard deviation accuracy of up to 15 mm. The aim was to design a simple yet sufficiently accurate system and verify its precision through experimental measurements. The experimental results demonstrate the system’s efficacy and lay a solid foundation for advancing this technology. Furthermore, the cost for the components required to build this indoor localization system (ILS) with three beacons and one tag is remarkably low, under EUR 80.

Azimuthal Solar Synchronization and Aerodynamic Neuro-Optimization: An Empirical Study on Slime-Mold-Inspired Neural Networks for Solar UAV Range Optimization

Hazare,

Sultan,

Mika

et al. 2024

This study introduces a novel methodology for enhancing the efficiency of solar-powered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through azimuthal solar synchronization and aerodynamic neuro-optimization, leveraging the principles of slime mold neural networks. The objective is to broaden the operational capabilities of solar UAVs, enabling them to perform over extended ranges and in varied weather conditions. Our approach integrates a computational model of slime mold networks with a simulation environment to optimize both the solar energy collection and the aerodynamic performance of UAVs. Specifically, we focus on improving the UAVs’ aerodynamic efficiency in flight, aligning it with energy optimization strategies to ensure sustained operation. The findings demonstrated significant improvements in the UAVs’ range and weather resilience, thereby enhancing their utility for a variety of missions, including environmental monitoring and search and rescue operations. These advancements underscore the potential of integrating biomimicry and neural-network-based optimization in expanding the functional scope of solar UAVs.