UAM Wireless Charging Pad Alignment Using Adaptive Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge of efficiently aligning wireless power transceivers for wireless charging in urban air mobility vehicles is critical, especially for unmanned systems, to ensure safe and efficient charging, as incorrect alignment can lead to inefficiencies and safety risks.
Innovation Solution
A method for aligning wireless power transceivers using various sensors, including cameras and GPS receivers, to diagnose sensor states, measure location, and perform precise alignment of power transmission and reception pads, ensuring efficient charging by adaptively selecting and driving sensors based on their states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wireless power transceivers are aligned manually or without precise positioning systems, then the alignment process is simpler, but wireless charging efficiency decreases due to misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment with an automated optical measurement system using cameras and image processing. The camera captures images of alignment marks on the power transmission pad, and image processing algorithms automatically calculate the relative position and orientation, eliminating the need for manual mechanical measurement and adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces alignment marks as an intermediary element between the power transmission pad and the power receiver. These marks serve as reference points that the camera can detect and use to calculate alignment status, facilitating precise measurement without direct complex sensor-to-sensor alignment.
2Reliability
If multiple sensors are used for alignment, then alignment accuracy improves, but system complexity and sensor failure risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary diagnosis of sensor states before using them for alignment. The system checks whether cameras and other sensors are functioning properly, and only uses diagnosed-functional sensors for measurement. This preliminary action prevents failure propagation and ensures reliable data from the sensor network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically selects and switches between different sensors based on their operational status. If one camera fails, the system can switch to using another camera or combine data from multiple functional sensors. This dynamic adaptation maintains system reliability despite individual sensor failures.
3Productivity
If wireless charging is performed without adaptive sensor selection, then the system operates simpler, but charging efficiency decreases due to undetected sensor failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where sensor data is monitored, alignment status is evaluated, and adjustments are made in real-time. The system receives feedback from the camera about alignment marks, calculates alignment accuracy, and automatically adjusts the power receiver position or orientation to optimize charging efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sensor diagnosis and selection before initiating the charging process. By checking sensor functionality in advance and selecting the best functional sensors, the system ensures optimal charging efficiency without needing complex real-time sensor management during charging.
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 diagnosing a state of at least one sensor included in the urban air mobility, requesting the supply device to drive a sensor included in the supply device through wireless communication based on a result of the diagnosing, measuring a location of the supply device by sensing a sensor signal of the supply device, moving the urban air mobility to the supply device based on the measured location of the supply device, and stopping the urban air mobility, performing alignment of wireless power transmission/reception pads for wireless charging, and performing wireless charging based on completion of the 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.