Application of Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide Photovoltaic Cells to Extend the Endurance and Capabilities of the Raven RQ-11B Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Prior thesis work has demonstrated the possibility of extending the flight time of military Small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (SUAV) by 200% with the implementation of thinfilm photovoltaic (TFPV) cells. In this thesis, we investigate how thin-film photovoltaic cells, made out of Copper Indium Gallium Di-Selenide (CIGS) semiconductor materials and mounted on the wings of the Raven RQ-11B SUAV, provide sufficient electrical power to fully operate the UAV for extended periods of time. This research focuses on extending the flight time of the Raven RQ-11B and on minimizing its sole dependence on lithium-ion batteries. This research will also demonstrate that increasing the size of the wings, adding a DC to DC power converter, and using a Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) will enable the Raven RQ-11B to keep its lithium-ion battery charging continuously, while operating under varying daylight conditions. Additionally, this research will investigate the advantage of enabling systems on the ground to “self-charge.” This will enable tactical units to operate in any field, to include areas where power sources are unavailable.