Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Wireless Charging System With Orthogonal Magnetic Structure and Position Correction Aid Device

Design and fabrication of a wireless charging system, which includes a wireless charging base station and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) with wireless charging capability is proposed for enlarging the UAV's working range. First, an optimized magnetic coupler featuring with an orthogonal magnetic structure with a flexible soft magnetic core in receiver is proposed to ensure high efficiency and low-leakage magnetic flux interference. Second, a wireless charging circuit topology and a closed-loop power controller implemented on the primary side are designed and analyzed in detail to maintain constant current/constant voltage charging for the UAV. Then, a wireless charging station with position correction aid device is developed, which can achieve high-precision alignment. A prototype of the UAV wireless charging system with the proposed magnetic structure, primary-side control, and position correction are built and tested. Experimental results show that the fabricated wireless charging system can deliver 87.4 W at a dc-to-battery efficiency of 87.3%, and the system is adapted autonomous charging of UAV.

Automated summary

This paper proposes the design and fabrication of a wireless charging system for extending the working range of UAVs. By optimizing the magnetic coupler, designing a wireless charging circuit topology and a closed-loop power controller, and developing a wireless charging station with position correction aid, high efficiency and precise alignment charging can be achieved. Experimental results demonstrate that the system meets expectations.