Application of PVDF Transducers for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Laís dos Santos Gonçalves, Ricardo Morais Leal Pereira, Rafael Salomão Tyszler, Maria Clara A. M. Morais and Carlos Roberto Hall Barbosa ()
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Laís dos Santos Gonçalves: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil
Ricardo Morais Leal Pereira: Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil
Rafael Salomão Tyszler: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil
Maria Clara A. M. Morais: Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil
Carlos Roberto Hall Barbosa: Postgraduate Metrology Programme, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 17, 1-22

Abstract: The demand for sustainable energy generation and storage methods has become inevitable. As a result, numerous sectors are investing in research focused on energy harvesting (EH) techniques. In this context, a promising area involves integrating piezoelectric materials into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—an application that enables electrical energy generation from the kinetic energies produced during flight. This article aims to use polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric transducers coupled to an EH power management unit (LTC3588-1) to convert and store electrical energy generated by wind from the propellers and motor vibration. Methodologically, the motor and transducers are characterized, a model is developed using LTSpice ® , and experimental validation of the performance of this coupling is carried out for output voltages (V out ) of 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 3.6 V. With a motor rotation speed of 3975 rpm, the transducers generated a voltage amplitude of 17.3 V, enabling the capacitor coupled to the EH power management unit—adjusted to the highest V out —to be charged in approximately 162 s. Thus, this study demonstrated the feasibility of using PVDF as a piezoelectric nanogenerator in UAVs, enabling onboard electronic circuits and sensors to be powered while reserving the battery solely for propulsion, thereby increasing flight autonomy.

Keywords: energy harvesting; piezoelectricity; PVDF; unmanned aircraft system; vibration energy; wind energy; aerial systems; drones (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: 2025
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