ABSTRACT
The unmanned aircraft (UA) electrical system provides the nexus of the UA subsystems to perform the intended mission. The electrical system powers the navigation and flight sensors; powers the flight, engine, and mission control computers; powers communication and detect-and-avoid systems; powers electromechanical servos and motors; commands valves for hydraulics if applicable; and in the case of small unmanned aircraft systems provides the source of propulsion. When the return leads of the power source(s) and the return leads of the component(s) are connected to the airframe, a complete circuit is provided. A point to be made, in closing this section, is that UAS electrical systems share commonalities though the components and overall system design will vary with platform size and mission. Power sources for larger, all-electric UA include solar panels, fuel cells. Rechargeable power sources in which the battery constituents can be electrolytically restored are referred to as secondary cells or batteries.
