Every year, the drone industry continues to raise the bar, pushing the boundaries of what drones can achieve. A key metric that keeps evolving is maximum flight time. In this competitive landscape, even a few seconds can make a difference in a drone's ranking.
Our expertise lies in the characterization and optimization of propulsion systems, a crucial element that can significantly extend your flight time. But beyond propulsion testing, there are various ways to boost your flight time, ranging from strategies that can add minutes to your flights to those that offer mere fractions of a second.
Some of these ‘obvious’ improvements will likely be familiar to members of the drone ecosystem, whereas the ‘not-so-obvious’ improvements might actually surprise you (let us know in the comments either way).
5 “Obvious” Ways to Make a Drone Fly Longer
1. Choose a high efficiency motor
Brushless motors that have low resistance, good cooling properties and high quality components are generally most efficient. Unfortunately, motor datasheets are not always reliable when it comes to reporting true efficiency figures, so it’s important to test them yourself to validate the numbers. Including highly efficient motors in your drone is a great way to get a good return on investment in terms of flight time.
2. Find the right batteries
There are so many things to consider when it comes to choosing the right batteries that this could be an article of its own. Actually, we did write an article on that, which you can check out here. Here’s a brief summary of the key points:
3. Choose your altitude wisely
Generally speaking, flying at lower altitudes is where you will find lower wind speeds and less wind resistance, meaning less work for your drone and an increased flight time. But that's not always the case. Here's some resources for checking the wind conditions before your flight:
4. Calibrate and clean your drone regularly
Regular calibration can help your drone fly more efficiently and extend your flight time. If your drone’s center of gravity is not properly balanced, it can affect the drone's stability and handling, which in turn can increase your power consumption and reduce your flight time. Regular maintenance is also crucial to keep your drone in good condition, and this can extend its lifespan and improve its performance.
5. Use energy-saving design components
Certain drone components are superior for reducing losses and increasing flight time. Aerodynamic energy-saving features include streamlined arms and frames, adjustable propellers and ducted rotors. Electrical energy-saving features include low resistance wiring, voltage regulators, and ESCs optimized for efficiency. With any of these components there may be a trade-off with drag and weight, so testing various configurations is ideal to get the best performance.
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5 “Not-So-Obvious” Ways to Make a Drone Fly Longer
1. Use propellers with a low blade number and low pitch
Propellers with fewer blades are generally more efficient. In theory, the most efficient propeller would actually have a single blade. In practice, however, having at least two blades is much more practical from a balancing perspective.
Propellers with a low pitch can also reduce energy consumption, as long as your drone is flying slowly. If you are flying quickly, it often makes more sense to have a propeller with a higher pitch. Testing different propellers to find the most efficient ones is a great way to significantly increase your flight time.
2. Find the most efficient motor-propeller combination
Testing various motors and propellers with a thrust stand like the Series 1585 can tell you which combination of components has the highest overall efficiency, giving you the highest possible flight time. Efficiency doesn’t stop at the individual component level, it is also important to make sure your components work well together.
3. Reduce hovering and fly at a steady speed
Forward flight is more efficient than hovering (up to a certain speed). When in hover, the rotors have to accelerate a smaller amount of air downward, which requires more energy. In contrast, in forward flight, the drone is constantly moving into new air, allowing it to generate lift more efficiently.
Additionally, in forward flight, the drone can benefit from aerodynamic components that provide additional lift and reduce the load on the rotors, further improving efficiency.
4. Use a high-quality charger
Using a high-quality charger can help you charge your battery more efficiently and extend battery life. Charging your battery too quickly can cause it to degrade faster over time, leading to gradually shorter flight times.
Additionally, keep a close eye on your battery life and avoid draining it completely as this can shorten its lifespan. Over-discharging puts stress on the battery cells and can lead to irreversible damage that may reduce overall battery capacity.
5. Don’t fly too far from the controller
When a drone is further from the controller, it may require more power in order to maintain a stable connection with the receiver. This is especially relevant if there are obstacles between the drone and the controller. To save on power and improve flight time, operate your controller from as close to the drone as possible.
Conclusion
In the world of drones, maximizing flight time is key. By considering both conventional and less conventional strategies, you can extend your drone's endurance significantly.
What strategies do you use to extend flight time? Let us know in the comments.
