Table 1.
Examples of power densities of different UAV powerplant components.
| Specifications from manufacturers' websites | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Manufacturer/model | Weight (kg) |
Peak power (kW) |
Power density (kW/kg) |
Application |
| Reciprocating engine (two-stroke) | Rotax 503 [9] | 33.2 | 37 | 1.11 | INTA SIVA UAV (SR) |
| Turboprop | Honeywell TPE 331-10 [10] | 153 | 671 | 4.38 | PREDATOR B (MALE) |
| Turbofan | Pratt & Whitney Canada PW545B [11] | 347 | 18.32 kN | 10.86 | PREDATOR C (MALE, 741 km/h) |
| Electric motor | ElectriFly GPMG4805 Brushless DC [12] | 1.48 | 8.4 | 5.68 | Radio-Controlled Aircraft |
| Lithium ion battery | ANR 26650 Cylindrical [13] | — | — | 2.60 | Portable high power |
| H2 fuel cell | UTRC Gen 1 [14] | 1.78 | 1.2 | 0.675 | Helicopter mini-UAV |
| H2 fuel cell | Protonex Ion Tiger UAV (NRL) [15] | 1 | 0.550 | 0.550 | Fixed-wing CR UAV |
| Solar array | Several Manufacturers [16] | — | — | 0.06 | Spacecraft Applications |
| Wankel | O.S. Engines 49-PI Type II 4.97 cc [17] | 0.333 | 0.934 | 2.8 | UAV Wankel engine |