Fuel Cell Drone

Background

New forms of renewable energy have surfaced in the past years.Hydrogen fuel cells are a form of renewable energy that is easily accessible since hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, and do not cause pollution or danger to our environment as they do not release greenhouse gases as opposed to burning fossil fuels.The fuel cell drone project uses a fuel cell battery as a source of power for a flying robot that can be remotely controlled or fly autonomously through software-controlled flight. 

For this particular project, we will be researching the fuel cell efficiency in a drone that we will design and build ourselves. Groups will be building a structure for the drone and assembling electronic parts for use throughout the experiment, while keeping the fuel cell as the focal point of this project. The advantages of the fuel cell lie in longer flight times, quick refuel, and function in low temperatures. Drones have many applications that are evolving as our technology advances. Drones can be used to survey and map land, reduce human liability exposure, aerial surveillance, disaster relief, and so on.

Goals and Objectives

Build a fuel cell battery-powered drone that flies and add the application of carrying loads as well as filming to the drone. 

Fully defining how the fuel cell battery will be applied to a drone. 

Design and build a drone.

Learning and understanding the appropriate constructuion and electrical parts for the drone.

Team Contacts

Project Team Lead: Xiangwang Hu xiangwah@uci.edu 

Advisor

Faculty Adviser: Professor Yun Wang yunw@uci.edu