Optimizing Endurance in Fixed Wing UAVs

This paper aims to explore the feasibility of current unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) implementations, focusing on their long-range capabilities and potential for enhanced efficiency. It will also provide designs for one such implementation, in an effort to improve accessibility. By assessing existing UAV systems, this study identifies areas for improvement that could lead to more cost-effective access to this technology. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper contributes to advancing the understanding of optimizing UAV performance while minimizing financial barriers. The proposed UAV relies on off-the-shelf components and offers flexibility for different scenarios. The UAV relies on the glider archetype, allowing a longer flight time compared with general aircrafts of its size today. An effort has been made to improve the control experience while in flight. This vehicle contains onboard GPS, barometric sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, as well as a communication module for line-of-sight control. A dual core microcontroller has been used to run an RTOS for future iterations.