A Constant Voltage/Current CPT System With Lightweight Characteristics for the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

Abstract

The large weight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could cause a decrease in endurance mileage, while poor anti-offset performance could extend charging time and may even damage onboard equipment. To address the above issues in constant-voltage/current capacitive power transfer (CPT) system for the UAV, a constant voltage/current (CV/CC) CPT system with lightweight characteristics for the UAV is proposed. Firstly, a capacitive coupler with strong anti-offset tolerance for the CPT system is proposed, and the coupling performance and equivalent model are studied. Secondly, the switching strategy for constant voltage/current output is studied based on the T- $\pi $ type compensation circuit, without additional compensating elements. Finally, a simulation model and a test prototype are built to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed system. The results show that the system achieved a constant voltage output of 60 V and a constant current output of 2 A. And the rate of change of the output voltage and current is less than 6% when the capacitive coupler is offset by ±100 mm, the rate of that is less than 6% when the load changes. The switching strategy proposed in this paper has obvious lightweight advantages and could serve as a reference for designing the CPT system for the UAV.

Keywords

• Capacitive power transfer (CPT)
• anti-offset
• constant voltage
• constant current
• light weight