A Wireless Charging System Based on a DR-IPT to Power a UAV From Distribution Poles

This study proposes a wireless charging system (WCS) based on a domino resonant inductive power transfer (DR-IPT) system and series compensators to charge the batteries of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from distribution poles. Based on numerical metaheuristic optimizations, a comprehensive independent design parameter (IDP) method is proposed for the DR-IPT system. Self and mutual inductances and resistances of the coils are specified analytically as a function of the IDPs. Then, the electric equivalent circuit of the system is derived and analyzed. A multiobjective function is defined to meet design objectives simultaneously (supply of the nominal charging power, maximum efficiency, minimum copper weight, and uniform voltage rating of capacitors). Inequality constraints are included to satisfy the zero voltage switching condition of the input inverter, the size restrictions, and the maximum current density of the coils. Several case studies are defined, examined, and analyzed to determine the impact level of the available IDPs (geometries, interval space, and natural resonant frequency of coils), multiobjective weight factors, battery specifications, and implementation of the constant-current charging regime over the performance of the system. The successful performance of the proposed UAV WCS and IDP design method has been technically discussed and experimentally shown. The impacts of the proposed WCS on the flight time and travel distance of the test UAV are experimentally discussed.