Automated Wireless Recharging for Small UAVs

Abstract

We develop a wireless, contact free power transfer mechanism that is safer than the direct metallic contact and robust to imperfect alignment on landing at the base station. A magnetic field is created using inductors on both the transmitting and receiving sides. We use the inductive wireless recharging to increase autonomy and decrease the sensor interference by reducing the inductor loop size. By locating four independent small receiver loops and corresponding four circuits around the quadrotor UAV, we can increase safety from circuit malfunctions in comparison to the use of just one loop. On the base station, four folding robotic bars are used to realign the receiver loops over the transmitter loops. After adequate recharging as measured by battery voltages or power consumption at the bae station, the UAV sends a signal to the base station to open the robotic bars and takes off once freed from the robotic bars.