Optimal performance and sizing of battery-powered helicopters for unmanned applications

While extensive papers on the analysis of nominal aircraft and few articles on battery-powered airplane exist, there is a notable lack of literature concerning battery-powered helicopters, especially in the context of unmanned aerial vehicle applications. The present work aims to address this lack by investigating the optimal performance and sizing of small-scale battery-powered helicopters for unmanned applications. The study begins with the explanation of the adopted constant power discharge model and continues with the battery sizing of a small-scale electric helicopter, followed by the sizing of a novel small-scale battery-powered configuration. According to model-based design, the simulator of a small-scale helicopter and its control system are then developed to accurately estimate shaft power, enabling more accurate performance prediction.