Research Progress on UAV Power Systems
In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology has been developing rapidly. As a new economic growth point, it is being deeply integrated into various sectors of the economy and society. Meanwhile, different power systems have been developed for UAVs, and they are applied in different scenarios according to their characteristics. This paper reviews the four existing UAV power systems, listing their features, advantages, and disadvantages, explaining their working principles, and presenting some application scenarios. Among them, fuel power systems have high power and long endurance, suitable for long-range missions; electric systems, in contrast, make UAVs more flexible, efficient, and low-emission, but are only suitable for small-scale operations. Hybrid systems and hydrogen energy systems are the two major future development trends, combining the advantages of the former two, but with the drawbacks of complex structure, immature technology, and requiring further development. This paper aims to popularize knowledge about UAV power systems and hopes to promote the advancement of this technology.