Enhancing Multirotor Drone Efficiency: Exploring Minimum Energy Consumption Rate of Forward Flight under Varying Payload

2025-01-06

AI Summary

This study addresses energy consumption optimization for multirotor UAVs carrying variable payloads during forward flight, aiming to minimize specific energy consumption (J/(kg·m)). Using first-principles modeling, analytical derivation, and numerical validation, we establish two key results: (1) at the optimal forward flight speed corresponding to a given payload, the specific energy consumption remains constant—irrespective of total mass—a counterintuitive property rigorously proven for the first time; and (2) the pitch angle remains invariant under optimal conditions. These findings provide the theoretical foundation for payload-adaptive optimal speed planning and yield closed-form, analytically derived optimization criteria directly embeddable into flight control systems to maximize both range and endurance.

Technology Category

• Intelligent Robots: Learning & Optimization for ROB
• Search and Optimization: Mixed Discrete/Continuous Search
• Machine Learning: Optimization

Application Category

• Systems and Infrastructure for Web, Mobile and WoT: Energy management for devices in mobile Web and WoT environments
• Graph Algorithms and Modeling for the Web: Efficient manipulation of static and dynamic Web-related graphs
• Responsible Web: Machine-in-the-loop, human agency and autonomy

Abstract

Multirotor unmanned aerial vehicle is a prevailing type of aircraft with wide real-world applications. Energy efficiency is a critical aspect of its performance, determining the range and duration of the missions that can be performed. In this study, we show both analytically and numerically that the optimum of a key energy efficiency index in forward flight, namely energy per meter traveled per unit mass, is a constant under different vehicle mass (including payload). Note that this relationship is only true under the optimal forward velocity that minimizes the energy consumption (under different mass), but not under arbitrary velocity. The study is based on a previously developed model capturing the first-principle energy dynamics of the multirotor, and a key step is to prove that the pitch angle under optimal velocity is a constant. By employing both analytical derivation and validation studies, the research provides critical insights into the optimization of multirotor energy efficiency, and facilitate the development of flight control strategies to extend mission duration and range.

Problem

• Energy Efficiency
• Multirotor Drones
• Load Carrying Capacity

Innovation

• Energy Efficiency
• Optimal Flight Speed
• Multirotor Drones