Autonomous Overhead Powerline Recharging for Uninterrupted Drone Operations – ICRA 2024
This video presents the paper "Autonomous Overhead
Power Line Recharging For Uninterrupted Drone Operations". The aim of this research is to demonstrate
sustained, uninterrupted drone operations – – by autonomously recharging the drone
from overhead power lines. We validate this through multiple cycles of flying and recharging
over a span of multiple contiguous hours. The drone system is equipped with an onboard
perception and autonomy component – – which detects overhead power lines and navigates
the drone towards them. The gripper on top of the drone allows it to grasp
a power line and recharge its batteries. [propeller noise] [50Hz vibration heard from harvester] While recharging, the drone emits a characteristic
sound from its gripper and energy harvester.
[50Hz vibration continues] [propeller noise] This test, which was carried out over the
span of two and a half hours – – shows the system continuously cycle between its flying
and recharging modes. The drone remained fully autonomous for the duration of the test and also demonstrated a recovery from an aborted landing. The current in the power
line was approximately 300 amperes – – from which the energy harvesting device was
able to charge the battery with 50 watts.
A higher power line current would result
in a proportionally higher charging power. As future iterations of this system
become more lightweight and efficient – – the ratio between time spent flying and time
spent recharging will significantly increase. In the future, self-recharging drone systems
could enable long-distance, fully autonomous – – inspection or delivery services with
minimal human intervention required..
