Drone development and market outlook
Driven by technological advances and regulatory easing, the global drone (UAV) market is projected to grow from an estimated USD 3.0 billion in 2024 to USD 7.7 billion by 2034, at an annual growth rate of nearly 10%. Applications are also scaling quickly across agriculture, logistics, environmental monitoring, and disaster response. As these use cases mature, battery design and performance become increasingly decisive as competitive differentiators.

	Small drones ＜25 kg	12-44 V	Discharge rate required: 10–20C
	Medium drones  25-50 kg	44-100 V (12S–24S lithium packs)	Discharge rate required: 15–25C

Flight performance and battery endurance testing needs

While drones exhibit different characteristics depending on their mission, their core power source remains the battery, directly determining flight time and mission reliability. Extreme temperatures and air pressure can accelerate battery aging and capacity fade. Since each battery faces widely different usage scenarios, regular Reference Performance Tests (RPTs) are especially important. Using standardized charge/discharge profiles, RPTs monitor capacity and temperature changes to accurately assess battery usability and safety under demanding duty cycles. At the same time, batteries must comply with international standards IEC 62133 and UN 38.3 to ensure stable output, precise navigation, and environmental tolerance, and to verify the reliability of the power system.

In addition to performance validation, drone batteries also undergo Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC) to simulate flight-like current loads. This validates pulse power capability, usable energy, and usable power, providing a reasonable assessment of the battery’s power discharge capability.
    

▲Figure 1  RPT (Reference Performance Test) process flowchart

▲Figure 2 Drone load current vs. time

Chroma 17020C: built for extreme drone battery testing challenges 

The Chroma 17020C Regenerative Battery Pack Test System features dual voltage ranges (60V/150V), providing flexible coverage for battery testing from small to medium-sized drones. Its powerful parallel channel capability up to 4000A fully supports demanding peak-current profiles. Combined with high-precision measurement (±12mV @ 60V / ±50mA @ 100A), the system accurately reproduces battery characteristics for both transient responses and long-duration discharge. 
For safety, the Chroma 17020C adopts a three-layer protection architecture, combining hardware safeguards and software monitoring with optional devices for output insulation monitoring (IMD) and anti-islanding protection. This robust safety framework protects both the battery under test and the overall test environment.

▲Figure 3 Chroma 17020C voltage/current

For performance verification, the 17020C pairs with Chroma’s Battery Pro X test software. Its intuitive interface enables R&D teams to quickly build complete test workflows for streamlined battery performance and lifetime verification. At the same time, the built-in test step customization allows users to reuse previously defined variables, and easily deploy project- or regulation-specific programs without repeated edits.

Fixed test items for sub-steps reduce repetitive editing Editable main-step conditions with selectable sub-steps for faster configuration Custom steps to create specialized test flows on demand, saving development time Single-page editing for cutoff criteria / BMS parameters / external acquisition parameters

▲Figure 4  Battery Pro X test software

For HPPC testing, the 17020C’s stable current slew rate capability combined with Waveform Mode makes it easy to reproduce motor load conditions during flight, including instantaneous high currents during high-speed climbs as well as complete discharge curves.

▲Figure 5  Chroma 17020C's steady-state current ramp-up capability  (Slew rate: 10%–90% <5ms)	▲Figure 6  Waveform Mode schematic

The Chroma 17020C seamlessly integrates with user-side thermal chambers to reproduce extreme conditions like low temperature and low pressure at high altitudes. With support for communication protocols and external data acquisition, the system simplifies testbed setup and enables validation of how the battery management system (BMS) adjusts charge/discharge strategies—helping teams simulate real flight energy management and capture changes in battery performance with high fidelity.

▲Figure 7 17020C system integration schematic

Backed by extensive integration experience and deep collaboration with leading test laboratories, Chroma delivers application-close testing environments and end-to-end solutions for drone battery R&D and verification. Whether supporting pre-launch validation or production ramp-up, Chroma helps battery manufacturers accelerate readiness for global market entry.

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