Drone in-flight power recharging system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorNathan D. Hiller
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A power recharging system may include an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft and configured to connect to a second aircraft while the aircrafts are in flight. An AC signal may be induced in the electrical conductor it is in proximity to a changing magnetic field. The system may include a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft that converts the AC signal into a DC signal for charging the first aircraft and a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft that converts the AC signal into a second DC signal for charging the second aircraft. The electrical conductor may be part of a communication line. A communication system at the first aircraft may send and receive data communications via the communication line.
Claims20
An in-flight power recharging system comprising:
- an electrical conductor having a strand shape with a first end that is connected to a first aircraft and a second end that is unconnected to the first aircraft, wherein the electrical conductor is configured to connect to a second aircraft at the second end while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight, wherein an alternating current (AC) signal is induced in the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is in proximity to a changing magnetic field;
- and
- a rectifier circuit configured to convert the AC signal into a direct current (DC) signal and to provide the DC signal to an aircraft power system while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight and while the electrical conductor is connected to the second aircraft.
An in-flight power recharging system comprising:
- an electrical conductor connected to a first aircraft at a first end of the electrical conductor, wherein the electrical conductor is configured to connect to a second aircraft at a second end of the electrical conductor while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight, and wherein an alternating current (AC) signal is induced in the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is in proximity to a changing magnetic field;
- a first rectifier circuit at the first aircraft configured to convert the AC signal into a first direct current (DC) signal and to provide the first DC signal to a first aircraft power system of the first aircraft;
- and
- a second rectifier circuit at the second aircraft configured to convert the AC signal into a second DC signal and to provide the second DC signal to a second aircraft power system of the second aircraft.
An in-flight power recharging method comprising:
- positioning a first aircraft above a second aircraft while the first aircraft and the second aircraft are in flight;
- extending an electrical conductor downward from the first aircraft while the first aircraft is in flight, wherein the electrical conductor has a strand shape with a first end that is connected to the first aircraft and a second end that is unconnected to the first aircraft, and wherein an alternating current (AC) signal is induced in the electrical conductor when the electrical conductor is in proximity to a changing magnetic field;
- connecting the second end of the electrical conductor to the second aircraft;
- while the first aircraft is connected to the second aircraft, converting the AC signal into a direct current (DC) signal at a rectifier circuit;
- and
- providing the DC signal to an aircraft power system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.