Abstract
The concept of a UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) with photovoltaic cells powered by a laser beam has been demonstrated as more firm, having higher usable power and more payloads than solar-powered ones, and features wide prospective. The theory models were based on the thermal equilibrium formulation which took into account of convective cooling raised by the flowing air and the radiation heat exchanges between the photovoltaic panel and the earth, and the atmosphere. Then, numerically, this paper investigated and analyzed the equilibrium temperature, energy efficiency, usable laser power density and maximum endurable laser power density of the photovoltaic panel, which can provide references for the choice of cooling methods and laser-power mission programming of the laser-powered UAVs.
Publisher
Trans Tech Publications, Ltd.
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