Solar Charging Drone Technology and Design

An electrically powered vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft with spinning wings for lift instead of traditional rotor blades. The aircraft has a non-rotating fuselage, a ring attachment for the spinning wings, and independent control of lift, thrust, and orientation for maneuverability. The spinning wings have aerodynamic features like winglets, flapping hinges, and lift control surfaces. The aircraft harvests solar energy in flight to supplement batteries. This allows long duration flight without emissions or refueling. The independent spinning wing control improves efficiency and allows precise hovering.

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An energy self-control base station for battery replacement of rotor UAVs, enabling autonomous takeoff and landing, and automatic battery replacement. The base station features a simple, three-rod telescoping landing platform with adjustable position control, and an electric gripper for battery handling. The system operates independently, powered by solar energy, and can maintain UAV endurance through automated battery replacement.

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A method for operating a cleaning system with a self-propelled cleaning device that optimizes energy harvesting from solar power by predicting and utilizing available solar energy on the cleaning surface. The system determines the temporal and spatial availability of solar energy through measurement and weather forecasting, and plans cleaning and charging processes accordingly. The system can also control sun protection devices to maximize solar energy capture and charge both the cleaning device and base station batteries using solar power.

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A self-charging modular portable survival drone that recharges by natural elements like wind and water. The drone has interlocking ducted fans and charging units that can be assembled into a compact backpack-sized device. When deployed, the fans can be submerged in water or left exposed to wind to generate power from the natural elements. The charging units convert the power to store it in onboard batteries. This allows the drone to charge itself without external power sources. The drone can also charge other devices through USB, perform remote flight operations, and signal for help using integrated features.

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Monitoring battery condition in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) through a novel power management system. The system integrates a power generation device with a battery and a secondary power source, enabling the charging of the secondary power source from the primary power source. This enables the system to maintain continuous power to the secondary power source, even in scenarios where the primary power source is depleted. The secondary power source can be charged from the primary power source using the charging circuit, ensuring uninterrupted power to the secondary power source. This system enables the UAV to maintain precise control over its attitude and flight parameters while operating on battery power.

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A self-charging unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that can extend flight time by dynamically managing battery charging. The UAV has two batteries, one for high power components like motors and another for lower power components like sensors. During flight, the UAV generates power from a motor shaft to charge the high power battery. When that drops below a threshold, it uses the charged lower power battery. This allows the UAV to continue operating while recharging the critical battery. The system also cools moving parts when hot and heats components when cold to maintain optimal temperature.

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Wirelessly charging autonomous vehicles like drones, robots, and aquatic vehicles without physical contact or exposed connections. The vehicles have removable batteries with coils to receive wireless power. Charging stations have transmit coils and logic to detect when a vehicle's receive coil is nearby. When detected, the transmitter switches to higher power for charging. This allows autonomous vehicles to find and charge at stations without landing or plugging in. It also enables wireless charging of moving vehicles.

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Enhancing the range of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) by using removable pods with supplemental batteries that can autonomously connect and disconnect mid-flight. The pods carry cargo and have their own batteries that can power the UAV when connected. This allows a UAV to extend its range by detaching an empty pod with a fully charged battery and attaching a new pod with cargo. The UAV can also swap pods mid-flight to replenish its power.

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Battery-free unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) that operates entirely from energy harvested from sunlight, eliminating the need for battery recharging and replacement. The UAV features a four-bar linkage mechanism, flapping wings, and a capacitor-based electrical subsystem that stores energy from solar panels to power the flight control system. The design enables extended flight times and opens up new applications for large-scale, sustained aircraft flight in areas such as wildfire monitoring, smart agriculture, and urban air quality assessment.

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Aerial moving body with wireless power transmission, comprising a rotary blade, airframe, power reception antenna with a larger-than-conventional opening area, drag-reducing structure, power converter, storage battery, and electric motor. The power reception antenna receives radio wave power and has an area larger than the projected airframe area on a perpendicular plane to the rotary blade axis. The drag-reducing structure minimizes descending airflow drag while maintaining power reception efficiency.

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Flexible UAV cargo transportation using UAVs and mobile exchange stations. The unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) receive payloads in removable containers from ground stations. The UAVs take off with the containers and deliver them to destinations. The containers are then removed by ground stations. The UAVs also have detachable batteries that can be swapped at the ground stations. This enables continuous UAV flights with rapid payloads and energy replenishment. The ground stations coordinate UAV landing, container and battery exchange.

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System and method for in-flight recharging of aerial vehicles (EAVs) without landing. The system uses a combination of solid conductors, plasma channels, and robotic arms to establish a conductive path between the EAV and a stationary or moving power source. The EAV approaches the charging station, and the robotic arms or plasma channel establish contact to complete the circuit. The system includes control equipment that schedules charging sessions, monitors EAV flight parameters, and provides instructions to the EAV and robotic arms.

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Power supply management system for long-distance drone transportation enables continuous flight by wirelessly transmitting power to the drone from a network of ground-based power transmitters. The system includes a power management device that tracks the drone's position and coordinates power transmission from multiple transmitters, allowing the drone to receive power continuously while in flight. The drone itself includes a power generation panel that adjusts its orientation to maximize power reception from the nearest transmitter.

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A self-charging tail-sitting UAV that combines vertical takeoff and landing with efficient fixed-wing flight, and wirelessly recharges from high-voltage transmission lines using electromagnetic induction. The UAV autonomously docks onto the wire using a hook and magnetic sensors, and then retracts its propellers to charge its battery. Once charged, the UAV restarts its propellers and flies away, eliminating the need for external charging infrastructure.

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Wirelessly charging aerial vehicles like drones or eVTOL aircraft by parking them above a charging pad on the ground. The aircraft has landing gear that can be adjusted to precisely position the charging receiver pad with respect to the transmitter pad to optimize charging efficiency.

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Flying object control system that optimizes power management and reduces wear on the power sources. It intelligently manages charging and discharging of the battery and generator to balance power needs, prevent overcharging/discharging, and minimize fuel consumption. It calculates the required battery charge level for takeoff based on the flight plan, predicts when to charge from the generator, and initiates generator power at that time. This avoids constant charging/discharging cycles that can degrade the battery and engine.

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A solar sheet for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that enhances light collection efficiency and increases power production. The sheet features a textured polymer coversheet with prismatic structures that improve light collection at high incident angles, particularly during morning and evening hours or at high latitudes. The sheet is designed to be flexible and conform to curved UAV surfaces, with a bottom surface that overlays thin-film solar cells. The sheet's specific power is optimized to enable longer flight times for UAVs, with a power conditioning system that operates the solar cells within a desired power range and provides compatible voltage to the UAV's electrical system.

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Wireless charging system for urban air mobility (UAM) vehicles that enables efficient and automated charging through precise alignment of wireless power transceivers. The system uses a combination of sensors, cameras, and communication protocols to guide the UAM vehicle to a charging station, establish pairing with a user device, and perform primary and fine alignment of the wireless power transceivers. The system also enables real-time monitoring of charging efficiency and beam pattern analysis to optimize charging performance.

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A wireless charging system for urban air mobility vehicles that enables efficient and precise charging through a multi-step alignment process. The system includes a supply device and a vehicle-mounted charging unit that communicate to guide the vehicle to the charging location. The vehicle performs horizontal and longitudinal alignments based on distance and visual cues, followed by fine alignment based on power transmission efficiency and beam pattern analysis. The system enables reliable and efficient wireless charging of urban air mobility vehicles.

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Optimization method for UAV-based wireless information and energy transmission to coordinate wireless information and energy transmission between a UAV and a wireless device to maximize the overall network throughput. The method uses a Markov decision process (MDP) model to determine the best actions for the UAV based on its energy state and the wireless device's energy state. The actions can be to charge the device, transmit information, or remain idle.

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