Conceptual Design of a Small UAV for Continuous Flight Over the Ocean

Dynamic soaring is a technique for extracting energy from atmospheric wind gradients and is proposed as a strategy for signicantly extending the range of small UAVs on specic missions. Enabling sensing technologies that make dynamic soaring feasible are reviewed. The combination of solar power and dynamic soaring is explored as a means primarily for storing energy in a battery that can be used to power onboard systems and provide a secondary means of propulsion if necessary. Conceptual vehicle design trade studies are presented as guides to preliminary sizing of a dynamic soaring UAV.