Date of Publication :8th August 2024

Abstract:Abstract— The autonomous operation of drones is becoming increasingly popular, with a growing demand to extend flight times for applications such as surveillance, tracking, and inspections. One of the most promising solutions for enhancing drone power autonomy is the use of docking stations. These stations facilitate landing and recharging, provide proximity to the work area, improve automation, and eliminate the need for user interaction. To address this need, we designed, prototyped, and tested an inductive charging system for wireless charging of small, low-cost drones. The constructed charging system consists of two main components: a portable dock housing with integrated power transmitting module, and the power receiving device. The receiver system connects to the drone onboard battery via an innovative landing gear attachment. We also investigated the efficiency of wireless power transfer at different transmitting frequencies and filter capacitances. Finally, we implemented the system for a DJI Mini 4 Pro drone to charge its DJI 3850 mAh Intelligent Flight Battery Plus, testing both energy transfer and landing capabilities. The constructed prototype achieved an output power of 26.7 W with a power transfer efficiency of 63.3% at a transmitting frequency of 200 kHz. Our investigation indicates the additional payload added by the receiving circuit reduces the drone's flight time, as expected.

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