Experimental Evaluation of Electric Powertrain System for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

With the growing use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in both civil and military applications, optimizing electric powertrain systems is essential to enhance endurance, efficiency ((Formula presented.)), and mission adaptability. This study explores the impact of commercially available propeller variations on UAV powertrain performance, keeping the battery, ESC, and brushless DC motor fixed. The hypothesis is that propeller geometry plays a critical role in thrust production and flight endurance. To validate this, several off-the-shelf propellers are experimentally tested using a dynamometer setup that measured thrust, RPM, voltage, and current at various throttle levels. Results show that propeller P3_30 delivered the highest Thrust to Mechanical Power Ratio (TMPR) (8.48%), while P1_26 offered the longest endurance (16.17 min). Notably, efficiency ((Formula presented.)) peaked at 93.1% for the P1_26 propeller configuration, further supporting its suitability for long-duration missions. These insights provide a practical performance guide for UAV designers and emphasize the value of experimental benchmarking in selecting propulsion components for mission-specific UAV configurations.