Unmanned aerial vehicle for monitoring transport infrastructure

Abstract

We consider the unmanned aerial vehicle of a multicopter type, in which the on-board battery is recharged using the energy of an external electromagnetic field created by the currents flowing through the wires of the contact network of an electrified railway transport or an overhead power line. This process is carried out without interrupting the flight of the aerial vehicle. The process of transferring this energy to the board of the multicopter is carried out by inductive method using an electric winding placed on it. This winding is connected to the battery. We constructed the finite element mathematical model. We performed the calculations of the EMF induced in the winding at the different trajectories of the aerial vehicle near the contact wire of the railway. It is revealed that the highest EMF values in the winding are induced when flying under the alternating current contact wire. When the winding moves under the direct current wire the frequency and amplitude of the induced EMF depend on the period of deviations of the aerial vehicle from the direction of the axis of its straightline movement. The EMF curve is non-sinusoidal. The degree of distortion of the EMF curve depends on the amplitude of the deviation of the winding from the axis of the direction of movement. At the alternating current through the contact wire the amplitude of the induced EMF mainly depends on the amplitude and frequency of the external magnetic field created by this current. The movement parameters of the aerial vehicle have a negligible effect on the EMF value.