Structurally Integrated Hybrid Battery for Improved Performance of Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) have been demonstrated to be highly effective in conducting a wide array of military mission. Due to relatively recent advances in rechargeable Li-Polymer battery and brushless electric motor technology, a greater number of small UAVs are electric powered. Though the use of quiet, low vibration, fast deployed electric propulsion systems have many advantages over their gas-powered counterparts, there is a need for the improved stamina of these systems to meet challenging long endurance mission requirements. To increase the flight time of small electric UAVs, Odyssian Technology proposes to develop and demonstrate multifunctional structure having a structurally integrated hybrid battery system. Structural battery concepts are proposed that structurally integrate the battery system into the airframe of a phase I flight demonstrator. Phase I battery-structure designs will be developed having structurally integrated commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) battery cells. In addition, phase I will include the design of a structurally integrated hybrid battery system for demonstration in phase II. Odyssian Technology proposes to develop in phase II highly integrated and optimized battery-structure designs using custom battery components. The benefits of this advanced aeropropulsion design include longer flight time, increased payload capacity, and enhanced thermal performance of the battery elements.