An approach of hybrid power and propulsion system design and performance comparison on a long-range compound-wing unmanned aerial vehicle

Research has found that using a series hybrid power system instead of a pure electric propulsion system is one of the most effective waysto improve the endurance capabilities of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) fixed-wing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), without changing the external power layout. A design scheme for a hybrid power system for UAVs is proposed in this paper, and the relationship between key data such as airspeed, cruise range, and fuel consumption is established based on ground experiments. A simulation model is built to verify the system under specific working conditions, which strengthens the practical application ability of fixed-wing unmanned aerial systems.