Flying a Micro-Drone by Dynamic Charging for Vertical Direction Using Optical Wireless Power Transmission

Tomoya Watamura, Takuo Nagasaka, Yuto Kikuchi and Tomoyuki Miyamoto ()
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Tomoya Watamura: Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST), Institute of Integrated Research (IIR), Institute of Science Tokyo, R2-39, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
Takuo Nagasaka: Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST), Institute of Integrated Research (IIR), Institute of Science Tokyo, R2-39, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
Yuto Kikuchi: Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST), Institute of Integrated Research (IIR), Institute of Science Tokyo, R2-39, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan
Tomoyuki Miyamoto: Laboratory for Future Interdisciplinary Research of Science and Technology (FIRST), Institute of Integrated Research (IIR), Institute of Science Tokyo, R2-39, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-Ku, Yokohama 226-8503, Japan

Energies, 2025, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-20

Abstract: Micro-drones weighing less than about 200 g have a limited flight time of 5–15 min. Dynamic charging by optical wireless power transmission is a promising solution to this problem. This paper investigated the configuration and conditions required for dynamic charging of micro-drones by optical wireless power transmission and clarified the effect of weight change on the power required for flight and the size of solar cells that can be installed. Furthermore, a micro-drone equipped with a solar cell without a battery was used to demonstrate a vertical flight height of 75 cm at 35 W light output. The results are useful for continuous flight of micro-drones by optical wireless power transmission.

Keywords: optical wireless power transmission; laser; solar cell; drone; lens system; dynamic charging (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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