Demand performance

Improving the energy use and efficiency of fuel cells powering future UAVs and stealth ground vehicles using computational intelligent modelling is the aim of researchers at

.

The research will take the form of producing algorithms that will drive the cells to their optimum operating performance.

Robotic systems such as those used in UAVs are required to perform complex trajectories with numerous transitory phases. This means that the load on the fuel cell is constantly changing, and it may not need to produce as much power at certain points, such as when the vehicle is moving slowly or is cruising.

At present, fuel cells are configured to operate at their optimum temperature as soon as possible after start-up, meaning that their fuel use and power output is constant — regardless of demand.

This project aims to mathematically model the cell control system and optimise its performance at various loads, meaning that the amount of power generated at any point is sufficient to meet the demand required. The resulting solutions are expected to improve endurance and robustness of the fuel cell system.