28 GHz Microwave Power Beaming to a Free-Flight Drone

Abstract

28 GHz microwave power transmission to free-flight drone experiment was conducted in a 10 m anechoic chamber. An AR-drone were controlled by IFT algorithm with indoor GPS. We developed a 50 % maximum efficiency rectifier and single-axis beam forming system. We demonstrated microwave power transmission with these systems for the flying drone at an altitude 800 mm. Phased array antenna consisted of 2 horn antennas transmitted 3.9 W in total. As a result, rectennas attached on the drone were able to continuously receive power for about 20 seconds, and the maximum overall efficiency was 0.044 %.