This work conceptualizes wireless power transfer (WPT) between a tracking stationary ground transmitter and a mobile aircraft. Initial ground tests are performed to determine the viability of the Friis equation, using rectennas developed for operation at 2.45 GHz at 4 dBm of optimal input power. An achieved rectifier operation efficiency of 59% is reached at this power level. A model for analyzing received power during WPT tests in flight conditions is then developed and applied for various flight paths possible with a small, electric UAV, using the designed rectenna for power conversion on the aircraft. A maximum of 429 mW is received when the aircraft is flown in a circular path centered around the ground transmitter, with a radiated power of 7 kW. Various other loiters are also analyzed, including racetrack, elliptical, and infinity-shaped loiters. The racetrack and elliptical loiters performed similarly with an approximate transmitted power of 4.5 kW and received power of 300 mW. The infinity loiter performed the worst with only 150 mW of received power with nearly 8.2 kW transmitted, which occurred primarily due to polarization mismatch between the transmitter and rectenna.


    Access

    Download


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Conceptualization of a Small, Uncrewed, Microwave-Powered Aircraft


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2025




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    Unknown




    CHARGING STATION FOR UNCREWED AIRCRAFT

    AKAGAWA MITSURU | European Patent Office | 2025

    Free access

    SELF-POSITION ESTIMATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR UNCREWED AIRCRAFT, UNCREWED AIRCRAFT, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

    WOJTARA TYTUS / TEDJAWIRJA VINCENT THEODORUS / BERGSTROM NIKLAS et al. | European Patent Office | 2022

    Free access


    UNCREWED VEHICLE

    TAKASU TETSUHIRO | European Patent Office | 2024

    Free access

    SELF-POSITION ESTIMATION SYSTEM FOR ESTIMATING SELF POSITION OF UNCREWED AIRCRAFT, FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM, UNCREWED AIRCRAFT, PROGRAM, AND RECORDING MEDIUM

    WOJTARA TYTUS / TEDJAWIRJA VINCENT THEODORUS / BERGSTROM NIKLAS et al. | European Patent Office | 2022

    Free access