For my master in Mathematical Engineering I wrote a thesis on the control of laser-powered drones.
Implement control strategies for drone and ground station in order to charge a drone while it is following a path. In this thesis, two different cases are discussed:
Longer battery life could help in a variety of applications:
Control a single drone so that it tracks a given path.
Goals:
Inspecting a number of solar panels one by one.
Flying in a helical shape around a windturbine.
Drone flying to different checkpoints without logic.
Inspecting a number of solar panels one by one.
Flying in a helical shape around a windturbine.
Drone flying to different checkpoints without logic.
Track a drone using the laser to deliver power.
Goals:
Inspecting a number of solar panels one by one.
Flying in a helical shape around a windturbine.
Drone flying to different checkpoints without logic.
In the coupled approach, the expected future position of the drone is used in calculating the control action of the ground station. This should improve the charging.
Inspecting a number of solar panels one by one.
Flying in a helical shape around a windturbine.
Drone flying to different checkpoints without logic.
When there is no direct line-of-sight, one drone is used to reflect the laser onto another to charge it with a mirror.