400-W UAV/Drone Inductive Charging System Prototyped for Overhead Power Transmission Line Patrol

Abstract

This paper reports 400-W 85-kHz band inductive charging system prototype for UAV or drone to be employed for overhead power transmission line patrol. For patrol of the long overhead power transmission line network, the consecutive charging opportunities which will be provided by multiple rapid wireless charging ports are desired. The rapid inductive charging system with frustum-shape wireless charging port and lightweight on-board power receive equipment is prototyped to serve such opportunity charging. The successful test of sequential operation of landing on the wireless charging port, 400-W or more wireless charging of lithium ion battery, taking off, and photo-shooting of overhead power transmission lines between actual high-rise steel towers by high-precision camera, show a great potential of the proposed inductive charging system for opportunity charging of long range patrol.