maximum climb altitude of a drone


Is a drone suitable for sounding or aerial photography from great heights? Based on theoretical considerations and practical information about the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" the maximum attainable height is examined with a drone in this professional article. With the maximum range of a drone deals this professional article. Finally optimization opportunities are identified to ascend with a drone to great heights. The core question here is how many vertical meters can rise a drone?


Please observe the relevant regulations. All information without guarantee and without any liability.

Bild "Quadrocopter_langsam.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

Example drone


In order to evaluate the idea of soaring with a drone (or model helicopter) key figures from practice are required. This professional article is as far as possible easily understandable written. For background information and further information see the appendix.

implementation sounding

The drone will operate autonomously in the high-altitude flight. Using GPS it rises vertically above the starting position as far as possible upwards until the battery is almost empty. This is followed by a controlled swoop in which the rotors are slowed down accordingly to a stable flight attitude. This works only with motors with low cogging torque. Energy recovery is possible. Shortly before the ground the model is intercepted and landed safely. That's the theory.

Technically limiting factors from such a high-flying drone are:
  • Decrease in air density with increasing altitude. Propellers must rotate faster and the maximum speed of the propeller (or motor / controller) is reached
  • battery capacity
  • ambient temperature
  • total efficiency of the model
  • weight

Air pressure and propeller speed

The air pressure decreases with altitude, so the speed of the propeller must be at the same thrust, increased (see derivation 1 in the Annex).

The higher the model aircraft increases, the faster the propeller must turn. This means that a propeller that rotates at sea level with 8000 revolutions per minute, in 2000 meters altitude above MSL (mean sea level, height above sea level) with 9120 U / min must rotate to generate the same static thrust (easy viewing without temperature influence ). The speed of the propeller can not be arbitrary increased, otherwise the propeller is damaged. Motor and controller also have a maximum speed. The relationship between propeller speed and air pressure can be seen from the chart 1. Key data of height airworthy drone in Table 1 below.

Bild "air_pressure_height_propeller_rpm.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 1 - air pressure, height, propeller_rpm



value example drone DJI Phantom 2 Vision  
  boost efficiency ?boost4 g/W4 g/W  
  take Off Weight m2,5 kg1,16 kg  
  drive input power4 x 600 W4 x 140 W  
  battery technologyLiPoLiPo  
  number of cells6S (22,2 V)3S (11,1 V)
  battery capacity4,9 Ah5,2 Ah
  energy content battery391 kJ208 kJ  
  battery weight750 g367 g
  drag coefficient0,90,9
  effective flow area A0,04 m20.026 m2
  system efficiency ?system30%30%

table 1 - height airworthy drone


optimum rate of climb

Following consideration suggests that there is an optimum rate of climb (climb speed) for a drone:
  • At the hover battery energy is not converted into height.
  • In a very rapid ascent of the air resistance with the climb rate increases squarely strong, whereby a lot of energy to overcome the air resistance is required. The power increases with the cube!

To be able to answer the question of the optimal rate of climb it is necessary to consider a drone mathematical / physically closer.

propeller thrust

The thrust force which can generate by a propeller can be determined using the following formula:

Bild "propeller_thrust.jpg"
You can imagine the formula so that the propeller have to catch fixed units of air mass packets in time (DELTA_t)  with the air mass m and the speed out down v_air,out. Moves the propeller with v_air, in the air, he must capture before the air mass packets. The greater the speed difference and the mass of the air packets, the greater the thrust produced.

efficiency of climb performance

The efficiency for the climb performance is determined by:

Bild "efficiency_climb_performance.jpg"

The larger ?climb is, the more efficient the (battery) power is converted into height. The relationship between efficiency, rate of climb and altitude can be read from chart 2 in our sample drone.

Bild "efficiency_climb_speed.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 2 - efficiency of climb speed and NHN


With increasing height the air resistance decreases as the air density decreases. The air resistance thus is less important which is why increases with increasing level of efficiency. From the graph 2 can be seen that at low rates of climb, the efficiency is considerably waning. When hovering (climbing speed = 0 m / s), the efficiency of the climb performance is expected to be zero because no amount of height is gained.

the optimal rate of climb

With the help of mathematics can be the optimal rate of climb of ?climb calculated as a function of height. See chart 3.

Bild "optimum_climb_speed.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 3 - optimum climb speed



The climb rate in order to remain in the optimum efficiency is enormous. At sea level this would be a vertical climb speed of 120 km/h at our example drone. The optimum climb speed for the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" are around 100 km / h. According to the manufacturer the model provides a maximum climb speed of 22 km/h. Thus the model can not climb with optimum efficiency.

required motor power for the optimal rate of climb

The necessary engine power for the example drone to maintain the optimum rate of climb is visible from chart 4.

Bild "required_motor_power_optimal_rate_of_climb.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 4 - required motor power depending on the height


Our sample drone has a maximum motor input power of 2400 W. This is not enough to allow a climb with optimum efficiency. However the efficiency only breaks at low rates of climb significantly. With 2400 W our model creates a function of the height of the climb rates like chart 5.

Bild "calculated_climb_speed_2400W.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 5 - climb speed example drone at 2.400 Watt


The model moves with 2.400 W motor input power is not in the optimum climb rate range of 34 m/s at sea level but reaches 19 m/s at sea level. The efficiency of converting the battery energy in height thus falls from about 22% to about 20%.
The "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" has a maximum of 560 W motor input power. The computed climb power at sea level is (chart 6) with this engine at about 6.8 m/s. Optimal would be 29 m/s. The efficiency of the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" order decreases from about 19% to about 13%.

Bild "calculated_climb_speed_DJI_Phantom_2.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 6 - climb speed DJI Phantom 2 Vision


Outflow velocity at the propeller

The maximum climb rate is limited by the combination of propeller pitch and speed. As a result corresponding outflow velocity at the propeller as in chart 7 can be seen.

Bild "air_speed_propeller_pitch.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 7 - air speed at the propeller


In reality, the air speed is about 10% less than indicated due to flow losses. The air flow produced by the propeller must be significantly faster than the rate of ascent of more than 70 km/h (19 m/s). The pitch of the propeller should therefore be at least 8 inches at a speed of about 8000 1/min.

maximum climb height

The energy content of the batteries of the example drone is 390 kJ and of the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" 208 kJ. As the model for the descent and the interception near the ground requires more energy there are about 350 kJ and 180 kJ available for the climb. If at the descent via the propeller energy is recovered even more battery power can be used for the ascent.

The example drone can climb from sea level to about 2800 meters above sea level (chart 8) and take for example aerial photographs. The "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" could climb 2300m (chart 9).

Bild "energy_consumption_versus_climb_height_2400W.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 8 - energy consumption versus climb height of the example drone at 2400W


Bild "energy_consumption_DJI_Phantom_2.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 9 - energy consumption DJI Phantom 2 Vision


Bild "comparsion_climb_heights.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

comparsion climb heights.jpg


climb time

To climb into this height about 140 seconds (chart 10) or 320 seconds (Chart 11) for the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" is required. Thereafter the battery is almost empty.

Bild "climb_time_with_2400W.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart 10 - climb time with 2400 W for the example drone


Bild "climb_time_DJI_Phantom_Vision.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

chart  11 - climb time for the DJI Phantom Vision


flight data of the drone

Data of flight with for the example drone and the "DJI Phantom 2 Vision" are in table 2 below.

value example drone DJI Phantom 2 Vision  
  maximum height above NHN in m28002300  
  climb time in s150310  
  maximum power in W2200540  
  battery energy at maximum height10%10%  
  current during climb flight in A10050

table 2 - flight data


value max. height above NHN in m gain in height in m  
  example drone28000  
  example drone 10% less weight3200+400  
  example drone 10% better drag coefficient2900+100  
  example drone 10% better ?trust3000+200  
  example drone 10% better ?system3100+300
  example drone 10% less reference area2900+100
  highly optimized drone4700+1900

table 3 - optimized drone


optimized drone

The technical data of an optimized drone are shown in table 4. This drone could climb up to 4700 m above mean sea level.

Bild "fast_quadcopter.jpg"
                Foto: Dirk Brunner; Lizenz: CC BY SA 3.0

optimized drone


value optimized drone
  drag coefficient ?trust5 g/W or 0,05 N/W  
  take off weight (including payload) m2,0 kg  
  drive continuous input power4 x 600 W  
  battery technologyLiPo  
  number of cells6s (22,2 V)  
  battery capacity4,9 Ah  
  energy content battery391 kJ (94 kcal)  
  battery weight750 g  
  drag coefficient0,5  
  reference area A0,04 m2  
  system efficiency ?system35%  
  maximum climb height4700 m above mean sea level

table 4 - optimized drone



conclusion

With the example drone a maximum altitudes of over 2000 m height are possible. At this altitude can already make impressive aerial photographs. A specially designed drone could climb to almost 5000 meters above sea level. Such drone may be widely used in future for
  • the simple and cost effective exploration of the lowest troposphere.
  • cartography and aerial photography
  • transport in the mountains (eg medication or emergency rations for mountaineers in distress)

What other operations are possible the future will tell.


Bild "Foto_Dirk_Brunner.jpg"



For questions regarding the implementation, optimization or calculation of climb flights I am happy to assist you.