​How Drone Manufacturers Choose Lithium Batteries

With the progress of computer technology, communication technology, and material science, the performance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has been greatly improved. The level of intelligence and autonomy has been increasing, and the market is becoming broader, with wide applications in national defense and security, agriculture, forestry and plant protection, aerial filming, logistics and transportation, urban planning, environmental monitoring, inspection, emergency response, and so on.

As the application fields of UAVs expand and their functions become more sophisticated, the requirements for related equipment such as motors, cameras, flight control systems, and batteries are also rising. Especially for batteries, they need to provide UAVs with longer endurance, higher output current, and more stable electrical energy support under limited weight constraints. When selecting lithium batteries, UAV manufacturers need to pay attention to the following aspects:

1. High Energy Density

As UAVs become more powerful, their related equipment such as motors, cameras, and flight control systems have higher electrical energy requirements, demanding greater capacity and higher discharge currents. However, due to the design constraints of UAVs, the size of the battery is fixed. Therefore, to achieve a higher capacity within the same size, it is necessary to select a lithium-ion battery with high energy density. This allows UAVs to fly at higher altitudes, over longer distances, and perform more complex tasks. For instance, Honcell batteries have an energy density of 166Wh/kg, resulting in a smaller size with a higher capacity.

2. Long Life

As UAVs need to be used for long periods of time, especially when performing complex tasks in the field, the cycle life of the battery is crucial.

3. High-Rate Discharge

When flying in the air, UAVs often encounter unexpected situations that require rapid acceleration, deceleration, changes in direction, and other operations. Therefore, they need a higher current to support these actions. Hence, high-rate discharge capability is particularly important.

4. Fast Charging

The tasks performed by UAVs are often complex, requiring frequent take-offs, landings, and flight operations. Thus, the charging speed of the battery is vital. Lithium-ion batteries have the characteristic of fast charging within a short period, which helps UAVs complete tasks more efficiently, reduce downtime, and improve overall work efficiency.

5. Safety

As drones are generally more expensive and perform more complex tasks, the safety of lithium-ion batteries is particularly important. Batteries need to incorporate safety features such as overcharge protection, over-discharge protection, short-circuit protection, and temperature monitoring to prevent explosions, fires, and other hazards. This ensures the overall safety of the UAV and reduces the risk associated with mission execution.

6. Reliability

The lithium battery of a UAV should be highly reliable, with a low risk of failure and malfunction. In a flight environment, any power interruption can have serious consequences.

7. Light Weight

Weight control is particularly important for drones as they fly through the air. Lithium-ion batteries with gel electrolytes, the removal of metal casing, and simplified packaging are the best choices because they can be lighter than batteries with the same capacity specifications.

8. Custom Lithium Batteries

Due to the critical role of battery performance in UAV operations, UAV manufacturers need to select lithium batteries that have been carefully designed to meet the requirements of advanced unmanned aerial systems (UAS) to ensure extended flight time and superior maneuverability.