Universal UAV Tether Power Supply With High-Voltage DC Feed
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional battery-powered small unmanned aerial vehicles have limited flight duration due to the limited charge storage capacity of their power packs, and tethered systems require tailored equipment for each specific vehicle, leading to equipment proliferation and maintenance burdens.
Innovation Solution
An electrical power supply system that applies direct current at an elevated voltage to a tether, reducing power losses and heating, and includes a universal aerial power supply that adapts to different unmanned aerial vehicle classes by using a common connector and DC to DC converters to step down voltage to the demand voltage, allowing interchangeable tethers and power supplies for various vehicles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a tethered small unmanned aerial vehicle uses a ground station with a power supply and tether to draw power from the ground, then flight duration is extended beyond battery limits, but the equipment must be tailored to each specific vehicle which causes equipment proliferation and maintenance burden
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal ground station power supply system with standardized connectors and voltage outputs that can serve multiple different UAV models. The ground station includes a common power supply unit that can deliver power to various UAV classes through standardized tether connectors, eliminating the need for vehicle-specific equipment configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows the ground station to change electrical parameters (voltage and current) dynamically based on the connected UAV's requirements. The power supply can adjust output voltage levels and current delivery to match different UAV power demands while maintaining a single standardized interface, resolving the contradiction between universality and specific power requirements.
2Ease of operation
If conventional battery packs are used in small unmanned aerial vehicles, then the vehicle can operate independently, but flight duration is limited due to limited charge storage capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The tether acts as an intermediary power transmission medium between the ground station and the UAV. Instead of relying on onboard battery capacity, the system uses the tether to deliver unlimited power from the ground-based power supply to the UAV, effectively extending flight duration while maintaining operational independence through the ground connection.
3Power
If the ground station applies high current at low voltage to the tether, then power delivery is simple, but power losses and heating of the tether increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground station transforms electrical parameters by converting low voltage/high current power to high voltage/low current power before transmission through the tether. This parameter transformation reduces I²R losses and heating in the tether during power transmission, improving overall system efficiency while maintaining the required power delivery 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
Enables flexible power supply for multiple unmanned aerial vehicle classes with reduced equipment proliferation and maintenance, while extending flight duration and ensuring safe operation by incorporating backup batteries and smart emulation for vehicle control systems.
Implementation Method 1
The ground station is adapted to apply direct current to the tether at a required elevated voltage and correspondingly reduced current, thereby reducing power losses and heating of the tether
Implementation Method 2
an aerial power supply which is adapted to connect to the airborne end of the tether and which includes a DC to DC converter adapted to convert the tether voltage to a demand voltage for the particular class of small unmanned aerial vehicle
Data Source
Figure 1.1~1.4
Figure 1.5
Figure 2
AI summary
An electrical power supply system for a tethered small unmanned aerial vehicle has a ground station (1) connected to a universal aerial power supply (13) by a tether (10). The universal aerial power supply is capable of installation into the battery dock of a conventional free flying small unmanned aerial vehicle to deliver power to the small unmanned aerial vehicle systems during flight. The universal aerial power supply is compatible with a range of different small unmanned aerial vehicles and a range of classes of small unmanned aerial vehicles.