Integration of high-efficiency, lightweight solar sheets onto unmanned aerial vehicle for increased endurance
AssigneeMicroLink Devices, Inc.
InventorsNoren Pan, Raymond Chan, Haruki Miyamoto, Andree Wibowo, Mark Osowski, Christopher Youtsey, David McCallum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Some embodiments include a kit for increasing endurance of a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) by incorporating flexible solar cells or applying flexible solar cells on a surface of a UAV or on a surface of a component of a UAV. The kit further include a power conditioning system configured to operate the solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power having a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV.
Claims49
A kit for increasing endurance of a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the kit comprising:
- a component of an unmanned aerial vehicle, the component including a plurality of solar cells and the component configured to be installed on a battery-powered UAV, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells has a specific power of 1000-3000 W/kg;
- and
- a power conditioning system configured to operate the plurality of solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power in the form of a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV.
A kit for increasing endurance of a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the kit comprising:
- a plurality of solar cells configured to be attached to a surface of a battery-powered UAV, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells has a specific power of 1000-3000 W/kg;
- and
- a power conditioning system configured to operate the plurality of solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power in the form of a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV.
A method of increasing an endurance of a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
- providing a component of a UAV, the component including a plurality of solar cells, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells has a specific power of 1000-3000 W/kg;
- providing a power conditioning system configured to operate the plurality of solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power in the form of a voltage compatible with an electrical system of a UAV;
- installing the component in a UAV;
- and
- connecting the power conditioning system with the electrical system of the UAV.
A method of increasing an endurance of a battery-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the method comprising:
- attaching a plurality of solar cells to a surface of a battery-powered UAV, wherein each of the plurality of solar cells has a specific power of 1000-3000 W/kg;
- providing a power conditioning system configured to operate the plurality of solar cells within a desired power range and configured to provide power in the form of a voltage compatible with an electrical system of the UAV;
- and
- connecting the power conditioning system with the electrical system of the UAV.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.