UAM Wireless Charging Alignment Using Sensor and Efficiency Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently aligning wireless power transceivers for wireless charging of urban air mobility vehicles is critical, especially for unmanned vehicles, to enhance charging efficiency and safety.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a vehicle control unit that acquires location information, performs initial charging, senses sensor signals for alignment, and adjusts alignment based on charging efficiency, using various sensors and cameras for precise alignment, enabling efficient wireless charging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless charging is applied to unmanned UAM vehicles, then charging convenience is improved, but alignment precision between power receiver and transmitter deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary alignment actions before actual wireless charging begins. Sensors detect the relative position between the power receiver on the UAM vehicle and the power transmitter on the ground, and the system adjusts their positions to achieve optimal alignment before power transfer starts, ensuring both convenience and precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors charging efficiency and sensor data during the alignment process, providing feedback to adjust the position of either the UAM vehicle or the ground-based transmitter. This closed-loop control ensures precise alignment is maintained throughout the charging operation
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used for alignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple types of sensors (cameras, ultrasonic sensors, infrared sensors) into an integrated sensor system that works together through a unified control algorithm. This merging approach achieves high alignment precision while managing complexity through systematic integration rather than separate independent systems
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor system is designed to perform multiple functions: detection, alignment, and verification. The same sensor array used for initial detection also monitors alignment during charging, providing multi-functional capability that reduces overall system complexity while maintaining high precision
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 method ensures accurate alignment and efficient wireless charging of urban air mobility vehicles, enhancing charging efficiency and safety by adapting to sensor states and vehicle conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless power transmitter installed in a charging infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an in-place alignment method for wireless charging of an urban air mobility and a device and a system therefor. A wireless charging method in an urban air mobility includes acquiring location information of a supply device for supplying wireless power, moving the urban air mobility to the supply device based on the location information, sensing a sensor signal of the supply device based on a distance to the supply device becoming equal to or smaller than a first distance, performing first charging in which the urban air mobility moves to the supply device based on the sensed sensor signal, stops and performs wireless charging with first power, performing fine alignment based on a wireless charging efficiency calculated during the first charging, and performing second charging in which wireless charging with second power is performed based on completion of the fine alignment. Therefore, the present disclosure has an advantage of maximizing a wireless charging efficiency and minimizing a power waste by quickly and accurately aligning wireless power transmitting/receiving pads of the urban air mobility and the supply device with each other in place.