Application of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Photovoltaic Cells to Extend the Endurance and Capabilities of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

摘要

In this thesis, we investigate the advantages of modifying current military Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) with available thin-film photovoltaic (PV) cells to increase their endurance, and/or capabilities. The approach taken was to explore available off-the-shelf flexible solar technology and to integrate it in a proof-of-concept model for testing and analysis. A physically similar commercially available battery powered plane was used to demonstrate the materials and methods by which the RQ-11B (Raven) Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (SUAV) could be modified. This research extends academic and private pursuit of solar flight to near-term improvement of military SUAV. Besides increasing on-station time of reconnaissance assets, this research also displays the additional advantage of enabling systems on the ground to 'self- charge.' This will enable tactical units to operate further afield, untethered from conventional power sources. Beyond the proof-of-concept, findings are extended to other potential military uses, and greater improvement through new or modified UAV design.