High Power, Long Endurance Micro Fuel Cell for Micro Air Vehicles

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) are becoming increasingly important for military and commercial sectors. Current battery technology is unable to provide necessary time of operation for some MAVs and ground mobile robotic platforms resulting in a strong desire for longer lasting power sources. Lithium-based rechargeable and primary battery chemistries are at the limits of performance with only slight gains seen in the foreseeable future. Fuel cells have offered the potential to significantly improve energy storage density if a viable fuel or hydrogen storage method is found, but they have also been limited by their power density for applications such as MAVs in which both power and lightweight energy storage is needed. For MAVs to become a practical tool for either tactical or reconnaissance missions, a leap in power density and energy storage density is needed. A micro fuel cell power supply that is integrated into the wing structure along with a chemical hydride energy storage systems offers the highest energy density option. This system will allow a MAV to fly for longer durations before refueling. Developing this novel micro fuel cell power system for MAVs will provide a critical tool with which airmen can maintain battlespace awareness and ensure force protection.