Wireless Power Transfer Technology Applied to an Autonomous Electric UAV with a Small Secondary Coil

Tommaso Campi, Silvano Cruciani and Mauro Feliziani
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Tommaso Campi: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Silvano Cruciani: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy
Mauro Feliziani: Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy

Energies, 2018, vol. 11, issue 2, 1-15

Abstract: This study deals with the design and the optimization of a wireless power transfer (WPT) charging system based on magnetic resonant coupling applied to an electric vertical take-off and landing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). In this study, a procedure for primary and secondary coil design is proposed. The primary circuit in the ground station consists of an array of coils in order to mitigate the negative effects on the coupling factor produced by the possible misalignment between the coils due to an imperfect landing. Key aspects for the design of the secondary coil onboard the UAV are the lightness and compactness of the WPT system components. A demonstrative prototype of the WPT system is applied to a commercial drone. The WPT electrical performances are calculated and measured. Finally, an automatic battery recharge station is built where the drone can autonomously land, recharge the battery and take off to continue its flight mission.

Keywords: magnetic resonant coupling; wireless power transfer (WPT); drone; Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV); automated battery recharge station; magnetic field (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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