Quantifying sUAS Efficiency Loss at Increasing Altitudes
David Zink
Small uncrewed aircraft systems (sUAS) are being utilized in a variety of environments, where changes in air density and pressure can influence flight efficiency and control stability. This study quantified how density altitude affects electrical current draw, battery performance, and flight duration of a multirotor sUAS across varied elevations in Argentina and Chile. Standardized flight tests, including hover endurance, waypoint navigation, and manual maneuver sequences, were performed using a