The Morning Sun Is Just Right, Perfect for a Drone Test Flight

"The test lasted over half an hour and consumed 8 kilowatt-hours of electricity.

Looking at the power consumption curve, it's most efficient at low speeds and most stable at subsonic speeds.

After breaking the sound barrier, power consumption begins to rise sharply.

So, if we calculate based on 30% low speed, 30% subsonic, and the remaining 40% supersonic.

To achieve a comprehensive range of 1000 kilometers, the drone's total battery capacity needs to be 20 to 22 kilowatt-hours.

Considering I personally prefer to push the limits with my aircraft, flying supersonic and reaching Mach 4 or 5 upon takeoff, I'll need over 30 kilowatt-hours just to be safe."

Before manufacturing the ultra-high energy battery, Chen Yi printed out the drone's test power consumption curve.

After some calculations, he arrived at the required battery parameters for the drone.

Ion propulsion.

Essentially, it's a method of propulsion that uses electrical energy to generate an electric field to accelerate ions.

Therefore, the energy source for the ion propulsion drone would naturally be a rechargeable battery.

Let's think bigger.

This is a new energy drone, converting from oil to electric, in response to national policy.

"The latest ternary lithium batteries have an energy density of 300 Wh/kg."

"But to reach a capacity of 30 kilowatt-hours, that would require 100 kilograms of batteries, which is a severe weight overload."

Current drones also need a layer of thermal barrier coating to prevent the high temperatures of the thermal barrier from damaging the carbon fiber structure.

Although carbon fiber is heat-resistant and can withstand temperatures of 1700 degrees Celsius without issue.

The resin combined with the carbon fiber can only withstand temperatures of a few hundred degrees Celsius.

A protective coating is necessary to prevent damage from supersonic thermal barriers.

Chen Yi calculated that this part would weigh approximately 2 kilograms.

Additionally, considering the maximum altitude.

The drone also needs to carry some ion propellant, which requires a budget of about 10 kilograms.

The airframe itself accounts for another 13.9 kilograms.

Based on a total design weight of 40 kilograms, the budget left for the battery is only 14 kilograms.

This means the battery's energy density must reach 2150 Wh/kg.

"Let's get started. It's a good opportunity to add some technical reserves for Yifei. Technology changes the world."

Chen Yi shouted and kicked over a nearby Yadi ternary lithium electric scooter, dismantling it to retrieve all the shell and frame components.

He used laser scanning to obtain the original structural images, then put on his virtual helmet and opened the CAD software to begin optimizing these structures just a little.

When one principle is mastered, all principles are mastered; everything becomes perfect.

By reading information and virtually learning, Chen Yi was now proficient in the structural design and aerodynamic layout of supersonic aircraft and spacecraft.

Now, turning around to design and optimize the structure of an electric vehicle was incredibly simple.

In less than half an hour, the electric vehicle's structural stability, center of gravity, and finally, its aerodynamic layout were all optimized.

The two carbon fiber 3D printers nearby began spraying hot powder, printing the electric vehicle's frame and body shell like building houses.

It was eleven o'clock at night.

The electric vehicle's components were printed.

Chen Yi took them to the paint booth and sprayed each component with paint.

After the paint dried, he assembled everything.

A carbon fiber-made electric vehicle, with a low-slung, elongated profile like a piece of science fiction, was fresh out of the oven.

[Item: An exquisite and aesthetically pleasing carbon fiber electric vehicle]

[Attributes: Energy x6.2, Speed x3.8, Electrical Control x5.2, Stability x27.3, Strength x19.2, Aesthetics x22.8]

[Note: This is an exquisite and expensive electric vehicle made of carbon fiber. Although it boasts aerospace-grade aerodynamic layout, stability design, and center of gravity design, rest assured, its top speed is still only 25 km/h.]

"Damn it!"

"I forgot about the new national standard speed limit!"

"If you can run 30 kilometers per hour, no matter how awesome an electric car is, it can't catch up to you."

Chen Yi was speechless upon seeing the electric vehicle's remark.

"I didn't anticipate the new national standard speed limit beforehand, and it's so late, it's inconvenient to find someone to remove the limiter."

"Now that the total attributes exceed 80, and following the rule that the maximum attribute cannot exceed the sum of the other attributes, the energy attribute can be adjusted and upgraded to over 40. That should be enough."

Chen Yi had originally planned to find someone to decode and remove the electric vehicle's speed limit.

But he checked the time.

It was almost midnight, so he put down his phone.

He calculated the initial total attributes for the electric vehicle and found that the energy attribute could be adjusted to 40.

Chen Yi decided not to find anyone to help him unlock it and started working on it right away.

A colorful radiance bloomed.

When the light faded.

The electric vehicle, which originally looked like something out of science fiction, began to revert to a modern style.

[Aesthetics: 22.8 → 12.8]

[Energy: 6.2 → 16.2]

[Detected an attribute exceeding the initial value, would you like to read the information? Yes/No!]

"Read!"

Chen Yi chose to read without hesitation.

A large amount of information flooded his mind, and soon, Chen Yi understood this technical information.

"All-solid-state lithium battery, the technology is average, energy density 860Wh/KG. Continue!"

Chen Yi continued, reducing the stability and strength attributes, and adjusting them to the energy attribute.

Several minutes passed, the light faded, and Chen Yi continued to read the information.

"Energy attribute 26.2, the negative electrode was changed from graphite material to semi-silicon-carbon material, and the energy density reached 1890Wh/KG."

"It seems that this silicon-carbon negative electrode material should be the main direction for the next generation of lithium batteries."

He continued to adjust and read information.

Energy attribute 36.2, the negative electrode material became all-silicon-carbon material.

The energy density reached 3689Wh/KG, a leap forward.

Energy attribute 41.2, the ratio of silicon-carbon anode material was optimized.

The battery structure was optimized, with an energy density of 5216Wh/KG.

"5216Wh/KG, I feel like this is not yet the limit for carbon-silicon anode materials. If I continue to optimize, I should be able to reach an energy density of 6000Wh/KG."

"However, if it really reaches this point, it should be close to the energy limit of lithium chemical batteries."

Chen Yi read all the information and analyzed it in his mind.

This all-solid-state carbon-silicon lithium battery with an energy density of 5216Wh/KG still has some room for optimization.

However, even with further optimization, Chen Yi guessed it would be close to the density limit of lithium batteries.

Although there were rumors of lithium-air batteries reaching 12,000Wh/KG.

Chen Yi, who had some understanding of this field, knew that 12,000Wh/KG was a theoretical lie that removed all other battery components and was calculated solely based on molar molecules.

Real lithium-air batteries struggle to break through 1000Wh/KG, and the technical difficulty is very high, requiring precious metals like gold.

Based on the complete set of battery technology he read, Chen Yi adjusted the 26.2 attribute, achieving an energy density of 1890Wh/KG.

He reduced some of the energy density to further enhance safety.

Finally, a semi-silicon-carbon lithium battery solution with 1400Wh/KG and safety several times stronger than lithium iron phosphate was freshly produced.

He sent this carbon-silicon battery technology and preparation process to He Yu.

Chen Yi activated the battery production equipment that was configured for the ducted fan model aircraft he had manufactured in the studio before.

Dawn was breaking.

Chen Yi used up all seven fire extinguishers in the studio.

Finally, he successfully manufactured a set of batteries wrapped in carbon fiber, weighing 14 kilograms, with a modular design, connected in series.

[Item: Ultra-high energy carbon-silicon lithium battery]

[Attributes: Energy x40.8, Safety x10 (-8.8), Strength x19.2]

Three simple and unpretentious core attributes.

The theoretical 10 for safety, reduced by 8.8 in practice, represented Chen Yi's rigorous manufacturing process.

"This battery is too difficult, completely different from old batteries."

Chen Yi grumbled a couple of times, then reduced the energy and strength by 5 points each, and increased the safety to 11.2.

The safety exceeded the designed theoretical value, ensuring that there would be no drone accidents caused by battery fires.

"The overall energy density is 3480Wh/KG, and a full charge reaches 48 kWh.

In addition, the battery has a modular design. By improving the series connection, the control program can be adjusted to add a jettison function for auxiliary fuel tanks, oh no, a jettison function for depleted batteries.

Whichever battery runs out of power, the drone will jettison it, further reducing the fuselage weight.

With all these measures, even if I like to fly fast, reaching half the range of a modern fighter jet, 1500 kilometers, is entirely possible."

Chen Yi installed the battery on the drone.

He improved the series connection and control program, and then sprayed a layer of heat-resistant protective coating on the drone.

It was nine o'clock, the morning sun was shining, perfect for a drone test flight!