Enhancing UAV endurance and operational efficiency in search and rescue missions through hybrid fuel cell and battery systems

Abstract

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), which can be remotely or autonomously piloted, are versatile platforms equipped with various payloads, including sensors, target designators, offensive weapons, and electronic systems for disrupting enemy targets. These UAVs have proven invaluable in diverse military operations and civil applications such as fire detection and management. Mini UAVs, in particular, are increasingly utilized for reconnaissance and surveillance, driving a continuous demand for enhanced endurance and range. Even slight improvements in these performance metrics offer significant competitive advantages. This project focuses on designing and optimizing a hybrid fuel cell-powered UAV to achieve better endurance. The optimization process is conducted using MATLAB Simulink, with the objective of maximizing flight duration and efficiency. The results demonstrate substantial improvements in the UAV’s endurance capabilities, validating the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid fuel cell system.