Commercial drone delivery viability hinges on battery payload-to-empty-weight ratios. This work presents wind-tunnel verified control algorithms that autonomously position echelon drones in wingtip vortices, demonstrating significant battery life extension.
By observing elevator and elevon trim deflections required to counter induced rolling moments, the aircraft deduces the exact spatial centroid of the preceding aircraft's wake vortex without needing external lidar.
A 6-aircraft cargo flight across rural corridors demonstrated an overall 19.2% reduction in total energy consumption, expanding maximum delivery radius from 180 km to 222 km.