Follow us on X
About us

DRONE AUTONOMY BOOST ⟩ In-air Charging Enables 'Endless' Flight for Military Drones

Photo: Alexandru Manole / Pixabay
Copy

The biggest challenge for drones is their limited flight time. Solutions like tethered flight or quick battery swaps on the ground have been proposed, but none have proven convenient enough for widespread use. Now, the U.S. military is turning to the same method used for fighter jets: in-air "refueling," or charging while in flight.

The goal of a groundbreaking new technology is to significantly extend drone flight times, offering a swift solution to the battery limitations that have long plagued electric aviation.

The U.S. Army has patented a new technology that allows its unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to remain airborne "indefinitely". Developed by the Army Research Laboratory at the Combat Capabilities Development Command in Adelphi, Maryland, the system extends the operational capabilities of drones by using charging mechanisms managed by other flying UAVs.

Much like mid-air refueling for fighter jets, the idea is to recharge flying drones—often multiple drones—without needing to land, according to Interesting Engineering.

At the heart of this new technology is a lead drone tethered to a charging cable that provides it with a constant power supply. Other drones can then connect to the lead drone, recharge, and resume their independent missions without touching the ground.

According to Interesting Engineering, using multiple UAVs on a shared tether has several benefits. These include having continuous surveillance from different perspectives, navigating through complex environments, concealing the ground station location, and more.

The breakthrough concept aims to significantly increase drone flight duration, addressing the critical issue of battery life in electric aviation.

According to the patent filing, the system allows drones in flight to be charged via power cables connected to a ground-based anchor. The drone is tethered to the anchor by fixed-length cables, allowing it to stay airborne for extended periods while receiving direct electrical power from the ground, continuously carrying out tasks like reconnaissance.

Meanwhile, other drones can recharge by connecting to the lead UAV via the tether. The system features various mechanisms for drones to attach and detach while in flight.

The lead drone pulls the power cable from the ground station, which can supply energy to multiple drones in the air. The connection points are equipped with magnetic and other elements to ensure a secure electrical link with each drone.

Connecting multiple UAVs to a shared power cable offers several advantages, including continuous surveillance from multiple vantage points, navigating complex environments, and concealing the ground station’s location.

This concept addresses the battery life issue that has long hindered electric aviation. Electric drones, often used for shorter-range missions, have been outperformed by gas- or diesel-powered UAVs when it comes to flight range.

Wireless solutions are already being developed: this drone, created by Chinese researchers, receives power via a laser beam transmitted from the ground.
Wireless solutions are already being developed: this drone, created by Chinese researchers, receives power via a laser beam transmitted from the ground. Photo: NPU

Several countries and companies are developing various connected drone technologies. For instance, Elistair, a company specializing in long-endurance unmanned aerial systems, has recently partnered with the Canadian firm Rheinmetall to offer military clients a mobile intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) solution. This collaboration combines Elistair’s automated KHRONOS system with Rheinmetall’s unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

In this system, a drone is deployed from an armored vehicle, tethered to observe its surroundings. Since the power is supplied via a cable, the drone doesn't require a large battery.

Researchers are also exploring other drone power solutions. For example, scientists at Northwestern Polytechnical University (NPU) in China are working on a drone module that converts light energy into electrical energy. This system allows a UAV to remain airborne indefinitely, receiving energy from a high-powered laser beam directed at the drone from a ground-based station.

Copy

Terms

Top