Evaluation of a Simplified Model for the Estimation of Consumption in Small Electrical VTOL UAVs

The early stages of the design process of an electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Unmanned Aerial System (VTOL UAS), requires robust, reliable, and simple models, to rapidly inquire relevant performance parameters for different configurations, and to determine the most promising development path, especially for innovative and untested geometry. This work aims to evaluate a simplified model for the estimation of consumption and, consequently, flight time and range for electric VTOL UAS by comparing simulation results for an innovative configuration and experimental data acquired during flight test on an existing prototype in real environmental conditions. Simulations, tests and comparison are related to a specific mission profile that includes: take off and transition from vertical to horizontal flight, cruise flight at constant speed, transition from horizontal to vertical flight and landing. In these conditions, electrical consumption [A] has been considered separately for each phase and maximum flight distance [m] and time [s] have been calculated consequently.