Optimization of range and endurance of a propeller UAV based on SQP algorithm

A method to augment range and endurance for a propeller-driven unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is presented in this paper. The basic idea is to find the optimal matching parameters among the flight conditions, the engine operation states, and the propeller characteristics. This can be achieved by minimizing fuel consumption per hour, and the fuel consumption per kilometer, respectively. The relationship between the required power and the available one is set up to satisfy the specific flight condition, and the calculation of parameters is discussed. A sequential quadratic programming (SQP) procedure is employed to solve the problem. Results show that the presented method can increase the endurance by 35% and the range by 11%, compared with the flight test.