A Light Weight Solar Powered Mini Quadcopter for Environmental Monitoring
K. S. Rahman1, Md. Rokonuzzaman2, G. B. Xue3, R. I. Thakur4, K. M. Kabir5, M. A. Matin6, S. K. Tiong7, N. Amin8

1K. S. Rahman, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (@The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
2Md. Rokonuzzaman, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (@The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
3G. B. Xue , INTEGRA, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
4R. I. Thakur, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (@The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia |
5K. M. Kabir, Renewable Energy Laboratory, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
6M. A. Matin, Renewable Energy Laboratory, Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology, Chittagong, Bangladesh.
7S. K. Tiong, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (@The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia.
8N. Amin, Institute of Sustainable Energy, Universiti Tenaga Nasional (@The National Energy University), Jalan IKRAM-UNITEN, Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia; INTEGRA, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
Manuscript received on November 22, 2019. | Revised Manuscript received on December 15, 2019. | Manuscript published on December 30, 2019. | PP: 4190-4194 | Volume-9 Issue-2, December, 2019. | Retrieval Number:  B4928129219/2019©BEIESP | DOI: 10.35940/ijeat.B4928.129219
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Abstract: A flying quadcopter equipped with green and environment friendly solar energy is designed and implemented in this study for monitoring purposes. It is capable to operate with light weight small solar panel generated power with designated light weight boost converter integrated in the body of the flying model. A preliminary design of the solar powered quadcopter has been performed by calculating and estimating the maximum lifting weight of flying model, voltage rating of the solar panel, battery voltage rating and its capacity. A charging during operation has been supplemented to the quadcopter to facilitate the operation as well as charging at the same time. In addition, crash protection structure has also been equipped to the design to reduce the impact to the structure during improper landing. With the enhanced ability of providing self-sustaining energy source, the quadcopter is capable to carry out environmental sensing with proper sensor mounted on it.
Keywords: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; Solar Energy; Quadcopter; Environmental Monitoring; Charge Controller.