Wireless Charging Techniques for UAVs: A Review, Reconceptualization, and Extension

Abstract

An important application in the growing field of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is in monitoring and inspection of high voltage power lines and electrical networks. The UAV-based monitoring method will save energy, simplify access to impassable or remote areas, reduce inspection cost, and automate the inspection process. However, the battery capacity of a medium scale drone limits their travel distance and mission duration. It is crucial to improve the energy feeding system of drones and overcome the battery capacity problem to foster the use of drones for routine monitoring operations. In this study, we focus on presenting wireless techniques available for drone mission duration improvement as well as discuss and practically examine the most feasible and reliable technique to charge UAV using power lines.

Keywords

• Unmanned aerial vehicles
• wireless charging
• wireless energy transfer
• inductive power transfer