Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles

Shimamura Kohei; Sawahara Hironori; Oda Akinori; Minakawa Shunsuke; Mizojiri Sei; Suganuma Satoru; Mori Koichi; Komurasaki Kimiya; Shimamura Kohei; Sawahara Hironori; Oda Akinori; Minakawa Shunsuke; Mizojiri Sei; Suganuma Satoru; Mori Koichi; Komurasaki Kimiya

doi:10.1017/wpt.2017.9

2017 Volume 4

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Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles

1.
Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan. Phone: +81 29 853 5267
2.
Department of Advanced Energy, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8561, Japan
3.
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
4.
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

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Author Bio:
Kohei Shimamura received a B.S. degree in Engineering from Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, in 2009; and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Since 2014, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Hironori Sawahara received a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, in 2009 and M.S. degree of Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011.

Akinori Oda received the M.S. degree of Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011. He joined DENSO Corporation in 2011, and has worked on production engineering of EHV power module and millimeter-wave radar.

Shunsuke Minakawa received a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, in 2016. He is currently in a M.S. course of the University of Tsukuba.

Sei Mizojiri is currently in a B.S. course of the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Satoru Suganuma is currently in a B.S. course of the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Koichi Mori received, respectively, the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1999, 2001, and 2004. He has been an Associate Professor of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.

Kimiya Komurasaki received, respectively, the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1987, 1989, and 1992. He has been a Professor of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
Corresponding author: K. Shimamura Email: shimamura@kz.tsukuba.ac.jp

Wireless Power Transfer 2017, 4(2): 146-159 | Cite this article

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/m², 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.
- Wireless power transfer,
- RFID,
- Energy harvesting,
- Rectenna

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Shimamura K, Sawahara H, Oda A, Minakawa S, Mizojiri S, et al. 2017. Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles. Wireless Power Transfer 4(2): 146-159 doi: 10.1017/wpt.2017.9

Shimamura K, Sawahara H, Oda A, Minakawa S, Mizojiri S, et al. 2017. Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles. Wireless Power Transfer 4(2): 146-159 doi: 10.1017/wpt.2017.9

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Feasibility study of microwave wireless powered flight for micro air vehicles

1.
Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1, Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan. Phone: +81 29 853 5267
2.
Department of Advanced Energy, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa 277-8561, Japan
3.
Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
4.
Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Author Bio:
Kohei Shimamura received a B.S. degree in Engineering from Keio University, Yokohama, Japan, in 2009; and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Since 2014, he has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Engineering Mechanics and Energy, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Hironori Sawahara received a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, in 2009 and M.S. degree of Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011.

Akinori Oda received the M.S. degree of Science from the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan, in 2011. He joined DENSO Corporation in 2011, and has worked on production engineering of EHV power module and millimeter-wave radar.

Shunsuke Minakawa received a B.S. degree in Engineering from the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, in 2016. He is currently in a M.S. course of the University of Tsukuba.

Sei Mizojiri is currently in a B.S. course of the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Satoru Suganuma is currently in a B.S. course of the University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.

Koichi Mori received, respectively, the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1999, 2001, and 2004. He has been an Associate Professor of the Department of Aerospace Engineering, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan.

Kimiya Komurasaki received, respectively, the B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan, in 1987, 1989, and 1992. He has been a Professor of the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the University of Tokyo, Chiba, Japan
Corresponding author: K. Shimamura Email: shimamura@kz.tsukuba.ac.jp

Wireless Power Transfer 4, Article number: 10.1017/wpt.2017.9 (2017) | Cite this article

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/m², 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.

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