Flight Power Supply Control for Optical Charging of Solar UAVs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies face challenges in efficiently transmitting power to high-altitude platforms like stratospheric platforms, particularly due to the need for high-precision tracking and the impact of weather conditions such as clouds.
Innovation Solution
A control device is used to control a power supply flight vehicle, which follows the flight of a power supply target flight vehicle equipped with a solar cell panel. The control device includes a light irradiation unit that radiates light towards the solar cell panel, with the direction of the light adjusted based on the posture and movement of the target flight vehicle to optimize power generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If light is radiated from the ground to the high-altitude platform, then power transmission can be achieved, but the transmission efficiency is reduced due to weather conditions such as clouds
Solution Approach 1:
A flight vehicle equipped with solar cell panels serves as an intermediary carrier between the ground-based light source and the power reception system. The flight vehicle flies through the atmosphere to collect light energy, avoiding direct ground-to-platform transmission through cloudy regions, thereby reducing energy loss and weather-related interference.
2Power
If ground-based laser irradiation is used for power transmission, then power supply to high-altitude platforms is enabled, but high-precision tracking is required which increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic tracking where the flight vehicle actively adjusts its position and orientation in real-time to maintain optimal alignment with the ground-based laser source. This dynamic adaptation simplifies the overall tracking requirement compared to a static high-altitude platform, as the mobile platform can more easily follow the laser beam movement.
3Loss of energy
If the flight vehicle follows the target flight vehicle closely, then weather impact is reduced, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements feedback mechanisms where the flight vehicle continuously monitors its position relative to the target flight vehicle and adjusts its flight path accordingly. This feedback-based control ensures the flight vehicle maintains optimal positioning for light collection while managing control complexity through automated closed-loop regulation.
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
This solution enables efficient power transmission to high-altitude platforms by maintaining the power supply flight vehicle in close proximity to the target flight vehicle, thereby reducing the impact of weather conditions and ensuring high-precision tracking.
Implementation Method 1
a light irradiation unit 112 that radiates light 120 toward the solar cell panel 330
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a control device that controls a power supply flight vehicle, the control device including a control unit which controls the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted. Provided is a control method to control a power supply flight vehicle, which is executed by a computer, the control method including controlling the power supply flight vehicle so as to cause a light irradiation unit to radiate light toward a solar cell panel while flying following flight of a power supply target flight vehicle on which the solar cell panel is mounted.