Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles. Issue 2 (21st November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shimamura, Kohei; Sawahara, Hironori; Oda, Akinori; Minakawa, Shunsuke; Mizojiri, Sei; Suganuma, Satoru; Mori, Koichi; Komurasaki, Kimiya
• Is Part Of: Wireless power transfer. Volume 4:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2017-11-21
• Subjects: Wireless power transfer, -- RFID, -- Energy harvesting, -- Rectenna; Wireless power transmission -- Periodicals; 621.319
• DOI: 10.1017/wpt.2017.9
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2052-8418

Abstract

Abstract : New small unmanned air vehicles designated as micro air vehicles (MAVs) are increasingly attractive for research, environmental observation, and commercial purposes. As described herein, the feasibility of a system for wireless power transmission via microwaves for MAVs was investigated. For its light weight and flexibility, a textile-based rectenna was proposed for microwave wireless power transmission of MAVs. To investigate bending effects on radiation performance, a microstrip patch antenna with a 5.8 GHz left-hand circular polarization was developed on a textile substrate. The antenna return loss, 20 dB, increased slightly with the antenna bending angle. An axial ratio <3 dB was maintained when the antenna bend angle was <30°. A rectification circuit was formed on the back side felt with sandwiched copper foil as a ground plate. Its weight per unit area was 0.08 g/m 2, with maximum rectification efficiency of 58% with 100 Ω load at 63 mW input power. The average and maximum total transmission efficiency using the 5.8 GHz multiple rectenna with a 2.45 GHz retrodirective system were, respectively, 0.44 and 0.60%. The possibility and feasibility of microwave power transmission system using the textile-based rectenna were evaluated.