Powerline Electric-Field Generator for Battery-Light UAV Powering
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for powering unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) near high-voltage powerlines are limited by the complexity of electric field topography and the reliance on energy storage systems, which restricts range and utility, and lack effective technical detail for harnessing electric field differentials.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising electrodes and electrical components that harness differentials in electric field strength near powerlines to generate power, using insulated electrodes and configurable capacitors to establish multiple electric circuits for efficient energy transfer, enabling UAVs to operate without energy storage systems and providing a new power source for objects within high-voltage electric fields.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If energy storage systems (batteries) are used to power UAVs near powerlines, then the UAV can operate independently, but the range and utility are restricted due to weight and capacity limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy storage function from the UAV system by introducing an external power source (powerlines). The electrodes capture energy directly from the powerline electric field, eliminating or reducing the need for onboard batteries, thus removing the weight constraint while maintaining continuous operation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrodes as an intermediary device between the powerlines and the UAV load. These electrodes capture energy from the powerline electric field and transfer it to the UAV, serving as a wireless energy transmission interface that eliminates the need for heavy onboard energy storage systems.
2Loss of energy
If complex electric field topography is considered for effective power harvesting, then energy capture efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the electrode system into multiple segments (first electrode, second electrode, third electrode) positioned at different locations and orientations. This segmentation allows each electrode to capture energy from different aspects of the complex electric field topography, improving overall energy capture efficiency while maintaining manageable individual component complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different electrode configurations and orientations at different locations to match the local electric field characteristics. Each electrode is positioned and oriented to optimize capture from the specific electric field conditions at its location, addressing the complex topography through localized optimization rather than uniform design.
3Power
If multiple electric circuits with configurable capacitors are used to harness electric field differentials, then power generation efficiency improves, but the circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs configurable capacitors that can be dynamically adjusted to optimize power generation under varying electric field conditions. The circuit configuration can be changed based on operating conditions, allowing the system to adapt to different powerline voltages, frequencies, and spatial positions, thereby improving power generation efficiency while managing complexity through programmable control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the electric circuit with configurable capacitors and multiple electrode connections that can serve multiple functions: capturing energy from different powerline phases, adapting to varying voltage levels, and optimizing for different flight positions. This multi-functionality allows a single circuit design to handle diverse operating conditions without requiring separate specialized circuits for each scenario.
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 allows UAVs to effectively harness electric field differentials for power generation, enhancing their range and utility, and provides a novel method for powering objects within high-voltage environments, improving performance and reducing reliance on traditional energy sources.
Implementation Method 1
Chen specifically recognizes that power can be supplied to a UAV from a powerline, through an interface, to an energy storage system of the UAV for repowering of the energy storage system of the UAV. In this respect, Chen broadly discloses that this can be done by one of capacitive power transfer and inductive power transfer.
Implementation Method 2
The EFA generator is intended to be used within an environment having inhomogeneous electric fields, wherein differentials in electric field strengths are sufficiently great so as to power the intended object with the EFA generator.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus in which electric power is generated for an electrical load from differentials in electric field strengths within a vicinity of powerlines includes: a plurality of electrodes separated and electrically insulated from one another for enabling differentials in voltage resulting from differentials in electric field strength experienced there at; and electrical components electrically connected therewith and configurable to establish one or more electric circuits whereby voltage differentials cause a current to flow through the established electric circuit for powering the electrical load. Preferably, the apparatus includes a control assembly having one or more voltage-detector components configured to detected relative voltages of the electrodes; and a processor enabled to configure—based on the detected voltages and based on voltage and electric current specifications for powering the electrical load—one or more of the electrical components to establish an electric circuit for powering the electrical load.