Extending quadcopter flying time

[Forumer]

Hello,

Today's quadcopters, small, or even the larger ones have a very short flying time, ranging between just about 5 minutes, to about 25 minutes.

I know it's also related to physics and not just electronics (changing center of mass, etc), but do you think it might be possible to add another Li-Ion battery that will connect to the built-in one in series thus increasing the flying time?

Thanks!

 

[(*steve*)]

firstly, you'd probably connect it in parallel.

secondly, if the could take off with the additional weight, it would require more power to stay aloft. So doubling the battery capacity may not (almost certainly will not) double the flying time. The larger the proportion of the total weight the batteries are, the whose it is. If you could somehow jetteson an exhausted pack you would be better off, bit the weight penalty might bring you back to square one (or worse)

Theoretically, a small internal combustion engine driving a generator could be more efficient because the weight drops as the fuel is consumed. If you can throttle the motor back when less per is required you might be able to get long flight times at the expense of a lot more noise.

 

[rikatotokuari]

As

firstly, you'd probably connect it in parallel.

secondly, if the could take off with the additional weight, it would require more power to stay aloft. So doubling the battery capacity may not (almost certainly will not) double the flying time. The larger the proportion of the total weight the batteries are, the whose it is. If you could somehow jetteson an exhausted pack you would be better off, bit the weight penalty might bring you back to square one (or worse)

Theoretically, a small internal combustion engine driving a generator could be more efficient because the weight drops as the fuel is consumed. If you can throttle the motor back when less per is required you might be able to get long flight times at the expense of a lot more noise.

As Steve said, it would be counter-productive to just hang another battery from the drone. But a small, efficient and light battery might give you a small boost in flight time. But nothing significant

 

[Arouse1973]

You would be better off trying to make the drivers that power the motors more efficient. When I used race RC cars, I changed the ESC MOSFETS and then had extended run time and the motor didn't need a heat sink anymore. After a race the motor was only warm and not hot as it used to be.
Adam