Hybrid Solar-Powered RC Aircraft for Enhanced Flight Endurance

Abstract

This paper presents the design and development of a hybrid solar powered RC aircraft aimed at improving flight endurance by utilizing renewable energy sources. Conventional RC aircraft rely primarily on batteries as their power source, which limits the flight duration due to the restricted energy storage capacity of the batteries. To address this limitation, a hybrid energy system consisting of solar cells and batteries is proposed to enhance the aircraft’s operational endurance. A fixed wing RC aircraft is used as the platform for implementing the proposed hybrid system. Photovoltaic solar cells are mounted on the wings of the aircraft to harvest solar energy during flight. The harvested solar energy can be utilized both to power the aircraft and to recharge the battery using a Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) charge controller. The proposed design focuses on achieving an optimal balance between solar energy generation and battery storage to ensure efficient system performance. Experimental results indicate that the proposed solar-powered RC aircraft significantly reduces the battery discharge rate, thereby improving the overall flight endurance of the aircraft. Previous studies have reported up to a 22.5% reduction in battery consumption for solar-assisted RC aircraft operating under favourable environmental conditions.

Introduction

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) face a major limitation in flight endurance due to battery capacity. To overcome this, solar-powered UAVs integrate photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into electrical energy, supporting propulsion and charging batteries simultaneously. This approach improves energy efficiency, reduces battery dependency, and extends flight duration.

The project focuses on developing a hybrid solar-powered RC aircraft that is simple, cost-effective, and efficient. It combines lightweight airframe design, a brushless DC motor propulsion system, photovoltaic panels, battery storage, and a power management system. A Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller optimizes solar energy extraction, while a rule-based energy management system dynamically balances power between solar input and battery storage for stable operation.

The circuit design ensures regulated voltage through a charge controller, with energy directed to the propulsion system or stored in the battery. The BLDC motor converts electrical power into thrust, enabling sustained flight.

Testing results show that the solar-powered system reduces battery discharge, increases flight duration, and ensures continuous operation under varying sunlight. Ground tests confirmed effective energy generation and battery charging, while flight tests demonstrated improved endurance and efficient propulsion, aligning with prior studies showing up to 22.5% reduction in battery consumption.

In essence, this hybrid system demonstrates a practical, environmentally friendly approach to extending UAV flight time using solar energy while maintaining simplicity and affordability.

Conclusion

This study presented the design and development of a hybrid solar powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) intended to enhance flight endurance using renewable energy. The proposed system integrates photovoltaic (PV) cells with a battery-based energy storage unit to provide a continuous and reliable power supply during flight, thereby reducing reliance on conventional battery power. An efficient charge controller (MPPT) system was incorporated to maximize the electrical energy extracted from the solar panels under varying environmental conditions. Experimental observations showed that the integration of solar energy significantly reduced the battery discharge rate while extending the overall flight duration of the UAV. Additionally, the inclusion of solar panels did not adversely affect the aerodynamic stability or operational performance of the aircraft. The results indicate that hybrid solar assisted UAV systems offer a practical and cost-effective approach for improving the endurance of small scale unmanned aerial platforms. Future research may focus on improving photovoltaic efficiency, optimizing aircraft aerodynamic design and implementing advanced energy management techniques to further enhance system performance.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Neha G Sawake, Kunal M Pisudde, Om A Bhedurkar, Mrunali R Tale, Gaurav S Zade, Kalpak K Waghmare. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.