Drone Lightning Guiding Circuit With Surge-Diverting Switches
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional techniques for capturing lightning using drones face issues where the current from a lightning surge flows through the drone and guide line, causing damage or causing the drone to fall.
Innovation Solution
A lightning guiding system that includes a Faraday cage, a power supply unit, and voltage-dependent switches to guide the lightning surge to the ground, thereby suppressing the current flowing through the drone.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drone is caused to fly while constantly supplying power to capture lightning, then the ability to capture lightning is improved, but a current due to lightning surge flows through the drone and power supply line causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the electrical path by introducing voltage-dependent switches at multiple points (first switch between Faraday cage and power supply line, second switch between power supply line and power supply device, third and fourth switches at power supply device output terminals). This segmentation isolates the drone from the full lightning surge current while still allowing lightning capture functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The voltage-dependent switches act as intermediaries between the lightning strike path and the power supply system. These switches automatically activate when voltage exceeds a threshold, diverting the harmful lightning surge current away from the drone while allowing normal power supply operations to continue.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If voltage-dependent switches are introduced to protect the drone, then protection against lightning surge is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage-dependent switches are self-activating components that automatically respond to voltage changes without requiring external control systems. When the voltage exceeds a predetermined threshold due to lightning surge, the switches automatically activate to divert the current, and then automatically reset when the surge subsides, eliminating the need for complex control circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the voltage-dependent characteristic of the switches, which change their electrical state (from high impedance to low impedance) based on the voltage parameter. This parameter-based control simplifies the system by using inherent electrical properties rather than requiring active sensing and control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents the drone from being damaged or falling by suppressing the lightning surge current, allowing for safe operation during lightning capture.
Implementation Method 1
a flight object that is included in a Faraday cage
Implementation Method 2
a first voltage-dependent switch that is connected between the Faraday cage and one of power supply lines
Data Source
AI summary
A flight object included in a Faraday cage, a power supply unit included in the Faraday cage and supplies power to the flight object, a first voltage-dependent switch connected between the Faraday cage and one of power supply lines that supplies power to the power supply unit, a second voltage-dependent switch connected between the Faraday cage and the other of power supply lines, a power supply device provided at an end of the power supply line on the ground surface side, a third voltage-dependent switch connected between one output terminal of the power supply device and the ground, and a fourth voltage-dependent switch connected between the other output terminal of the power supply device and the ground.