"A Ukrainian drone unit commander told Business Insider this week that his crew usually does not need the heaters because the batteries naturally warm themselves up during flight as they power the system. However, in winter's freezing temperatures, it's becoming increasingly necessary to use a supplemental heat source to prevent the battery's voltage from dropping and ultimately decreasing the drone's range and combat efficiency, the commander said."
"The setup adds less than 100 grams to a drone that weighs about 45 kilograms (roughly 100 pounds) and does not affect performance. The shoe insoles tactic isn't necessarily new, but it is not always needed. The drone unit commander said that last year, his team experienced warmer temperatures in an area of the front line where moist air presented a greater challenge than the temperature."
Ukrainian forces wrap drone batteries in disposable heated shoe insoles and insert them into drones just before takeoff to keep batteries warm in freezing temperatures. Batteries often warm during flight, but winter conditions can cause voltage drops that reduce range and combat effectiveness. The insole setup adds less than 100 grams to a roughly 45-kilogram drone and does not affect performance. The tactic is not always necessary, as moist air and warmer local conditions can present different challenges. High temperatures also risk overheating batteries during motor-intensive phases like takeoff, which can damage batteries and impair operations.
Read at Business Insider
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