UC Irvine Solar Airplane

Solar Airplane is a project that has had many iterations at UCI, of which only one successful plane was launched by using a model kit. First under the Material Science department in an effort to improve the efficiency of solar panels and miniaturization, the project was handed to the Mechanical Engineering department and the focus has shifted from improving solar panels to improving the vessel the panels ride on.

The goal of the project has shifted in its last few generations from building an autonomous drone to creating a fuselage entirely out of carbon fiber; this year the project wants will step back and answer its fundamental, core issue: why should an UAV have an implemented solar panel system? What is the biggest source of inertia that has held this project back and what needs to be addressed before moving forward?

The project's overall objective is to improve last year's design. Though our previous team members were able to construct a plane entirely from scratch, they did not have a very successful launch and flight. This year, we would like to extend the flight time by 10 minutes while still incorporating solar panels along its wings. The UAV in question is imagined to be used in times of disaster and danger, with a camera mounted so its operator can have a view of the area and the ability to integrate with sensors for atmospheric conditions. When the area is too dangerous for operation, the UAV should even have autonomous functions to fly and record data on its own. 

At our scale currently, having an airplane completely powered by solar is out of our scope. We have to integrate electronic components, batteries, and safety equipment which add weight to our plane. In the end, while ambition is what we strive for, it is important to have a solid foundation for the project to develop. While it may not be this year, the project in the future should aim to maximize its solar panel area and reduce the number of electrical components until all that is left is a plane, a flight controller, panels, inverter, and a motor.

Team Contacts -

Project Manager 2020-2021: Andre Necochea - anecoche@uci.edu

Advisor: Yun Wang - yunw@uci.edu