Abstract
In this article, the concept of a 22-kW microwave-powered unmanned aerial vehicle is presented. Its system architecture is analyzed and modeled for wirelessly transferring microwave power to the flying UAVs. The microwave system transmitting power at a 35 GHz frequency was found to be suitable for low-cost and compact architectures. The size of the transmitting and receiving systems are optimized to 108 m2 and 90 m2, respectively. A linearly polarized 4 × 2 rectangular microstrip patch antenna array has been designed and simulated to obtain a high gain, high directivity, and high efficiency in order to satisfy the power transfer requirements. The numerically simulated gain, directivity, and efficiency of the proposed patch antenna array are 13.4 dBi, 14 dBi, and 85%, respectively. Finally, a rectifying system (rectenna) is optimized using the Agilent advanced design system (ADS) software as a microwave power receiving system. The proposed rectenna at the core of the system has an efficiency profile of more than 80% for an RF input power range of 9 to 18 dBm. Moreover, the RF-to-DC conversion efficiency and DC output voltage of the proposed rectenna are 80% and 3.5 V, respectively, for a 10 dBm input power at 35 GHz with a load of 1500 Ω.
Highlights
Unmanned aircraft and drones are employed for applications related to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) gathering that are not putting human life in danger [1,2,3]
The maximum energy is passing through the main lobe, and it has the highest gain and directivity
AArectenna typically consists of an antenna, rectenna typically consists of an antenna,aadiode, diode,aamatching matchingcircuit, circuit,and andaaresistive resistive load
Summary
Unmanned aircraft and drones are employed for applications related to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) gathering that are not putting human life in danger [1,2,3]. UAVs are widely used including fields such as broadcast coverage, search and rescue missions, scientific research, disaster monitoring, crime prevention, radiation observation, and so on. They can act as a platform for telecommunication services, i.e., mobile radio or TV broadcasting in rural locations at the regional level [5,6,7,8]. Electric aircraft has drawn attention as a possible candidate for UAVs applications. An electric aircraft can use an electric motor that can be 95% efficient instead of the 18–23% efficiency of regular combustion engines. Light in weight, safe, low-cost, and quieter
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