Green Aviation
Flying cleaner: a solar-powered UAV, fuel-cell propulsion, tracking the carbon footprint of flights, and lightweight airframe materials that save energy.
About this project
Aviation is working to cut its emissions, and small aircraft are a cheap place to try ideas. This track starts with a solar-powered UAV: solar cells laid into the wing, a charge controller, and an airframe light enough to stay up on sunlight.
Fuel cells are studied as a power source through the research literature and small demonstration kits. A carbon emission tracker estimates the footprint of each flight and of the club's work as a whole, so improvements can be measured.
What the team is working on
- Build a solar-powered UAV with solar cells in the wing
- Study fuel-cell propulsion as a power source for small aircraft
- Build a carbon emission tracker that estimates the footprint of flights
- Choose lightweight airframe materials that save energy in flight
Tools and technologies
- Solar cells
- MPPT charge controller
- Li-ion packs
- Fuel cells (study)
- Lightweight foams
- Energy budgeting
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