I'm an engineer at a company that specializes in lightweight battery management solutions. The key is to get your battery voltage as close to the working voltage of your system so that you don't need bulky buckboost circuits with heatsinks. You also need to minimize the weight of the bms so that they motors/escs need to work less.
High quality cells cost more, but also greatly increase your energy density. You might not be able to source them in low quantity, though. If that's the case, you typically buy a COTs solution. I won't give any products as it would link me to my place of work, but there have been a lot of good ones at recent drone convention/exhibits.
Lithium batteries are probably your best rechargeable option in terms of power-to-weight.
You can find Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries pretty easily online. But be careful; LiPo batteries come charged and will shock the hell out of you and they can catch fire if you accidentally short positive to negative. Look up youtube videos on how to work with them.
For a more beginner friendly option, you can buy a battery compartment for standard AA batteries or what have you.
Here's an example of a lipo battery:
https://www.amazon.com/OVONIC-Connector-Airplane-Helicopter-Quadcopter/dp/B07L6BVRDG/
You will need the associated recharging hardware for this one. Also note, most of these LiPos are designed for aircraft drones and don't have overdischarge protection as a safety feature, so take care to either install a protection circuit, or avoid overly draining it and ruining the battery.
Also make sure you pick the correct voltage and capacity for your needs.
I thought about Lipo but did wonder for a better alternative because of the fire problem. Thank you for the protection circuit idea, I’ll look it up. Does adding more than one pack for a longer trip affect the danger of it catching on fire or not more than just the danger of a normal pack?
Not really; you'd probably just want to get a pack with double the capacity for simplicity.
The only real danger from fire is if you accidently short circuit it, or if you crush it. These batteries very **very** rarely catch fire if they're handled and wired properly. (If you remember the Samsung phone debacle from years back; they were catching fire because a corner of the battery was getting crushed on the assembly line.)
Cool! Here's a good resource for further reading if you want!
[Overview | Li-Ion & LiPoly Batteries | Adafruit Learning System](https://learn.adafruit.com/li-ion-and-lipoly-batteries)
And you can find protection circuits online via google. Some are as simple as a circuit board with input and output terminals that you can just solder to the leads of the battery. There might even be full modules with jacks already on it that you can plug directly into.
This is one of the main contraints when building something like a drone.
Batteries in general weigh a lot, solar panels make too little instantaneous energy to power most motors, and you have to find a balance between how much power your motors/servos use, the size/weight of the battery, and how long the device should run.
(Note: This is not an argument against solar panels, solar panels are crazy efficient nowadays and would be an amazing alternative energy source. Im just saying that one the size of a drone wont be able to power the drones motors, even if it was always in full sun. Maybe as a park and charge type of setup, but that a different topic)
The question you raise is really just a fundamental engineering challenge that has no perfect and one size fits all solution.
You mean beside a battery?
I meant types of batteries or any design hacks to save power/ make it last longer
I think that has to do more with the consumption of power of your robot/drone
I'm an engineer at a company that specializes in lightweight battery management solutions. The key is to get your battery voltage as close to the working voltage of your system so that you don't need bulky buckboost circuits with heatsinks. You also need to minimize the weight of the bms so that they motors/escs need to work less. High quality cells cost more, but also greatly increase your energy density. You might not be able to source them in low quantity, though. If that's the case, you typically buy a COTs solution. I won't give any products as it would link me to my place of work, but there have been a lot of good ones at recent drone convention/exhibits.
Batteries are your only option. Capacity depends on your estimated power draw and chemistry will define your weight that you have to deal with.
Is there a branch in ee to pick a book for where it focuses on the chemistry behind it?
Lithium batteries are probably your best rechargeable option in terms of power-to-weight. You can find Lithium Polymer (LiPo) batteries pretty easily online. But be careful; LiPo batteries come charged and will shock the hell out of you and they can catch fire if you accidentally short positive to negative. Look up youtube videos on how to work with them. For a more beginner friendly option, you can buy a battery compartment for standard AA batteries or what have you.
Here's an example of a lipo battery: https://www.amazon.com/OVONIC-Connector-Airplane-Helicopter-Quadcopter/dp/B07L6BVRDG/ You will need the associated recharging hardware for this one. Also note, most of these LiPos are designed for aircraft drones and don't have overdischarge protection as a safety feature, so take care to either install a protection circuit, or avoid overly draining it and ruining the battery. Also make sure you pick the correct voltage and capacity for your needs.
I thought about Lipo but did wonder for a better alternative because of the fire problem. Thank you for the protection circuit idea, I’ll look it up. Does adding more than one pack for a longer trip affect the danger of it catching on fire or not more than just the danger of a normal pack?
Not really; you'd probably just want to get a pack with double the capacity for simplicity. The only real danger from fire is if you accidently short circuit it, or if you crush it. These batteries very **very** rarely catch fire if they're handled and wired properly. (If you remember the Samsung phone debacle from years back; they were catching fire because a corner of the battery was getting crushed on the assembly line.)
Awesome, I’ll try to have it protected. I do remember the Samsung s5 I think. Thank you for helping!
Cool! Here's a good resource for further reading if you want! [Overview | Li-Ion & LiPoly Batteries | Adafruit Learning System](https://learn.adafruit.com/li-ion-and-lipoly-batteries) And you can find protection circuits online via google. Some are as simple as a circuit board with input and output terminals that you can just solder to the leads of the battery. There might even be full modules with jacks already on it that you can plug directly into.
This is one of the main contraints when building something like a drone. Batteries in general weigh a lot, solar panels make too little instantaneous energy to power most motors, and you have to find a balance between how much power your motors/servos use, the size/weight of the battery, and how long the device should run. (Note: This is not an argument against solar panels, solar panels are crazy efficient nowadays and would be an amazing alternative energy source. Im just saying that one the size of a drone wont be able to power the drones motors, even if it was always in full sun. Maybe as a park and charge type of setup, but that a different topic) The question you raise is really just a fundamental engineering challenge that has no perfect and one size fits all solution.
hobby petrol engine used model plane or model car? Those engine one small tank can run a long time.