Review of Propulsion System Design Strategies for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Abstract

The design of the propulsion system for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) demands an inclusive multidisciplinary approach from the earliest design phases, since every design choice strictly affects and is affected by the overall working conditions. This paper presents a review of the scientific literature focused on the design methods applied in defining and sizing the propulsion system of drones. The analysis, performed with a systematic approach, evaluated 123 papers according to two custom classification taxonomies, which investigated respectively the primary aim and specific content of the works. Finally, literature indications and hints were combined into an integrated framework for the functional design of the propulsion system of UAVs. The procedure aimed to support the designer in the preliminary selection of the propulsion candidates and the quick sizing of the supply system, during the first phases of the design process. According to the literature, design methods dramatically change depending on the expected applications and working conditions of UAVs, so that the detailed design of specific drone elements and propulsion components represents the focus of most of the papers in this field.