Light UAVs serve both military and civilian missions

UAV manufacturers are increasing functionality and mission-operation time, in part, by reducing vehicle weight. Performance improvements to large motion actuators and their drivers, both with respect to weight and energy use, benefit flight- and gimbal-control systems. Improvements in vision sensor technologies have improved image resolution while reducing size and weight for both standard image capture and forward-looking infrared (FLIR) systems. Typical military UAVs develop primary AC electric power from a turbine-based generator. An AC/DC converter provides a distribution-level voltage, which can range from 270 V to 28 V, depending on the design. Reduction in power-conversion losses simplifies the thermal design, allowing smaller heat sinks and fans. Given the high degree of silicon integration already in use for radios, vision systems, motor and actuator drivers, and computational resources, from a size and weight perspective, careful attention to the power subsystem design may be the single most effective way to reduce total payload.