Most studies concerning electric powered UAVs’ performance are based on fixed-weight plane model for the fact that battery’s
weight remains unchanged during discharging. However, it is possible to extend electric powered UAVs’ endurance by dumping
exhausted batteries out of the aircraft in flight. Impact factors affecting the endurance performance of UAV with battery-dumping
capability such as the battery dumping system (BDS) weight ratio, battery mounting and dumping device (BMDD) weight ratio,
battery packs count and battery dumping strategy were studied and discussed. The optimum endurance with conventional fixedweight
model and battery dumping concept were then obtained and compared utilizing Genetic Algorithm
© 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Peer-review under responsibility of Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics (CSAA).
Keywords: electric-powered UAV; battery dumping system; duration enhancement; Genetic Algorithm