Wireless Power UAV Hovering via Electromagnetic Beam Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current remote-controlled vehicles, particularly Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs), face challenges in complex control systems and limited endurance due to power constraints, making sustained hovering flight and efficient surveillance or signal relay difficult.
Innovation Solution
A system that uses an electromagnetic beam to guide and power a remote-controlled vehicle, enabling it to hover and maintain position, with an electromagnetic energy receiver converting the beam into electrical power and sensors controlling the vehicle's position for surveillance or signal relay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a UAV carries its own power source to complete a mission, then the mission duration can be extended, but the UAV must be larger to carry the power source
Solution Approach 1:
The power source is extracted from the UAV and placed on the ground. The UAV receives power wirelessly through an electromagnetic beam, eliminating the need to carry heavy batteries or fuel tanks onboard. This extraction principle directly resolves the contradiction by extending mission duration without increasing UAV volume.
Solution Approach 2:
An electromagnetic beam serves as an intermediary to transfer energy from the ground-based power source to the UAV. This mediator enables power transmission without physical connection or onboard storage, allowing the UAV to operate indefinitely without carrying power sources.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a UAV uses hovering flight mode for surveillance, then the surveillance capability is improved, but the power consumption increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The power source is removed from the UAV and replaced with wireless power reception. The UAV can hover continuously for surveillance without the power consumption limitation, as power is supplied externally through the electromagnetic beam rather than from finite onboard sources.
Solution Approach 2:
The electromagnetic power transmission operates continuously to sustain the UAV's hovering state. This continuous external power supply enables uninterrupted surveillance operations, maintaining the hovering position indefinitely without the intermittent operation constraints of onboard power sources.
3Use of energy by moving object
If a UAV uses forward-flight design to reduce power consumption, then the power efficiency is improved, but the surveillance effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of compromising surveillance effectiveness to achieve power efficiency through forward-flight, the approach is inverted: the UAV hovers (the power-intensive mode) while obtaining power efficiently through wireless transmission. This inversion resolves the contradiction by making hovering viable without onboard power constraints.
4Measurement precision
If a UAV uses complex control devices to maintain position, then the control precision is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses electromagnetic sensors to detect the position of the electromagnetic beam and provides feedback to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables precise position control by continuously monitoring and adjusting the UAV's location relative to the beam, achieving high precision without overly complex mechanical control devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical control systems with an electromagnetic field-based control approach. The electromagnetic beam and sensors create a virtual reference framework that simplifies position control, substituting mechanical complexity with electromagnetic field interactions and software-based control algorithms.
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 for efficient, sustained hovering and simplified control of remote-controlled vehicles, reducing power requirements and enabling prolonged surveillance or signal relay operations without the need for on-board power sources, enhancing operational flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
electromagnetic energy receiver configured to receive an electromagnetic beam and convert the electromagnetic beam into electrical power
Implementation Method 2
Using electromagnetic sensors on the vehicle to monitor the position of the electromagnetic beam
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a position control system for a remote-controlled vehicle, a vehicle operated by the control system, and a method for operating a remote-controlled vehicle. An electromagnetic energy receiver is configured to receive an electromagnetic beam. The electromagnetic energy receiver is further configured to determine a position of the remote-controlled vehicle relative to a position of the electromagnetic beam. The vehicle is directed to maneuver to track the position of the electromagnetic beam.