UAV Wireless Charging Pad With Nested Coils for Misalignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless charging technologies for electronic devices and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) face limitations in efficiency, cost, and complexity due to the need for precise alignment and multiple coils, which restricts their usability and scalability, especially for UAVs with limited flight times and security concerns.
Innovation Solution
The use of networked coils with nested sensing and charging coils, along with machine learning algorithms and RF fingerprinting, enables the localization and authentication of devices without precise alignment, allowing for efficient energy transfer and autonomous charging of multiple devices, including UAVs, through energy hopping and adaptive power management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If multiple isolated coils are used for wireless charging, then charging coverage area is increased, but system complexity and cost increase dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple coil functions into a single integrated coil that performs both sensing and charging operations. The coil is configured to detect presence of devices at different locations and selectively transfer power to multiple devices simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate isolated coils for each charging position.
Solution Approach 2:
The single coil is designed to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a sensing element to detect device presence and a power transfer element to charge multiple devices. The coil can dynamically adjust its operation to serve different charging positions and device types without requiring dedicated coils for each function.
2Loss of energy
If precise alignment between transmitter and receiver coils is required, then charging efficiency is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the coil's operating parameters including frequency and power distribution based on real-time detection of device positions and orientations. The coil can adapt its magnetic field distribution to accommodate misaligned devices while maintaining efficient power transfer, removing the need for precise manual alignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The coil incorporates sensing capabilities that provide feedback on device presence, position, and alignment status. Based on this feedback, the system automatically adjusts power distribution and coil activation to optimize charging efficiency without requiring user intervention for alignment, thus maintaining efficiency while improving ease of operation.
3Area of stationary object
If hundreds of coils are deployed to cover large surface area, then charging coverage is expanded, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the charging surface into multiple detectable zones using a single coil's sensing capability. The coil can identify which segments or positions have devices present and activate only the necessary power transfer paths, providing large-area coverage without deploying numerous physical coils across the surface.
4Reliability
If specialized power sockets are installed for each coil to ensure continuous sensing, then sensing reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The single coil performs self-sensing and self-powered operation without requiring external power sockets at each sensing position. The coil can detect device presence passively and activates power transfer only when needed, eliminating the requirement for specialized power infrastructure while maintaining sensing reliability through its inherent electromagnetic sensing capability.
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 enhances the efficiency and scalability of wireless charging, reduces costs by minimizing the number of required coils, and provides secure, autonomous charging for UAVs, extending their flight times and improving usability.
Implementation Method 1
a coil in the plurality of coils that detects, based on a change in an electromagnetic field or a sensed voltage
Implementation Method 2
configured to provide charging energy to the device independent of a location along the pad in which the device landed, and no precise alignment between the receiver coils and the charging coils is required
Implementation Method 3
array of inductive or resonance coils configured to deliver power to one or more aerial vehicles
Data Source
AI summary
The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to systems, devices, and methods for sensing and charging of electronic devices using coils. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed system can include a pad, a charging foot, and a backpack. The pad can include one or more nested coils therein that can sense one or more corresponding receiver coils of an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) that landed thereon. The nested coils of the pad can provide charging energy to the UAV independent of the location along the pad in which the UAV landed, and no precise alignment between the receiver coils and the charging coils is required. The charging foot can be attached to one or more legs of the UAV, and can include a receiver coil and circuitry to regulate energy received by the coil to a charging voltage level that can be provided to the battery.