Space solar power programs and microwave wireless power transmission technology

McSpadden, James; Mankins, John C.

doi:10.1109/mmw.2002.1145675

Cited by 365 publications

(144 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…1,2 They are promising elements for power harvesting and scavenging, especially for microsystem applications in wireless sensor networks and on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To evaluate the rectenna designs, their rectifying efficiencies and compact sizes are two significant figures of merit.…”

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confidence: 99%

A metamaterial-inspired, electrically small rectenna for high-efficiency, low power harvesting and scavenging at the global positioning system L1 frequency

Zhu¹,

Ziolkowski²,

Xin³

2011

Applied Physics Letters

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An electrically small rectenna was designed and tested at the global positioning system (GPS) L1 frequency (1.5754 GHz). The metamaterial-inspired near-field resonant parasitic antenna size (ka $ 0.467) and its direct match to the input impedance of the rectifying circuit decreased the whole size of the rectenna (ka $ 0.611). The simulated and measured rectifying efficiencies were, respectively, 75.7% and 79.6% when the input power to the rectifying circuit was 0.0 dBm (1 mW). The highest rectifying efficiency, 84.7%, was achieved at the GPS L1 frequency for a 3.0 dBm input power. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement. Rectennas, which is short for rectifying antennas, have received much attention for their use in wireless power transmission (WPT) systems. 1,2 They are promising elements for power harvesting and scavenging, especially for microsystem applications in wireless sensor networks and on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To evaluate the rectenna designs, their rectifying efficiencies and compact sizes are two significant figures of merit. The antenna, which is typically bigger than the rectifying circuit, is one of the critical components of the rectenna system. On the one hand, the impedance matching between it and the rectifying circuit always affects the overall rectifying efficiency. Furthermore, its size typically dominates the overall size of the rectenna.The basic structure of a rectenna is shown in Fig. 1(a). The antenna is the interface between the external electromagnetic (EM) environment and the rectifying circuit. It plays the significant role of receiving the EM signals and converting them into voltages and currents. Consequently, it also has important consequences in the requisite impedance matching to the rectifying circuit. The rectifying circuit consists of a band-pass filter, a Schottky diode, and a low pass filter. To increase the rectifying efficiency when the input power is low, a Schottky diode with a low built-in voltage and high breakdown voltage is always selected. 3 However, harmonic signals will be generated because the diode has nonlinear characteristics, and hence, could be radiated by the antenna back into the ambient space and absorbed by the board material. These harmonic generation and absorption processes can dramatically decrease the rectifying efficiency. Consequently, a band pass filter and a low pass filter are usually incorporated between the antenna and the diode, and between the diode and the load, respectively, to prevent any harmonics from flowing back into the antenna and forward into the load.The emergence of metamaterials (MTMs) has provided a promising methodology to design electrically small antennas (ESAs). 4 The ESAs in Refs. 4 and 5 are constructed as a combination of electrically small driven and metamaterialinspired near-field resonant parasitic (NFRP) elements. The NFRP elements are generally single epsilon-negative (ENG) or mu-negative (MNG) based unit cells of a metamaterial, not a complete bulk medium. In Refs. 6-8, an extended ...

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

A metamaterial-inspired, electrically small rectenna for high-efficiency, low power harvesting and scavenging at the global positioning system L1 frequency

Zhu¹,

Ziolkowski²,

Xin³

2011

Applied Physics Letters

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“…There are a variety of techniques that can be used to wirelessly transmit energy ranging from directed microwave energy [5] to radio frequency power harvesting [6]. We use magnetic resonance wireless to transfer power from our UAV.…”

Section: Related Workmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimental Analysis of a UAV-Based Wireless Power Transfer Localization System

Mittleider

Griffin

Detweiler

2015

Experimental Robotics

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Abstract. Sensors deployed in remote locations provide unprecedented amounts of data, but powering these sensors over long periods remains a challenge. In this paper, we develop and present a UAV-based wireless power transfer system. We discuss design considerations and present our system that allows a UAV to fly to remote locations to charge hard to access sensors. We analyze the impact of different materials on the wireless power transfer system. Since GPS does not provide sufficient accuracy, we develop and experimentally characterize a relative localization algorithm based on sensing the magnetic field of the power transfer system and optical flow that allows the UAV to localize the sensor with an average error of 15 cm to enable the transfer of on average 4.2 W . These results overcome some of the practical challenges associated with wirelessly charging sensors with a UAV and show that UAVs with wireless power transfer systems can greatly extend the life of remotely deployed sensors.

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“…Microwave power transmission (MPT) technology transfers power from one location to another by the microwave beam, which could be applied in supplying power to the space power satellites, unmanned aerial vehicles, the far-reached areas, and so on [1]. For a large-scale MPT system, the most important parameter is the beam capture efficiency (BCE), which is the ratio of the captured microwave power by the receiving antenna array to the transmitted power by the transmitting antenna array [2].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of the Sparse Uniform-Amplitude Concentric Ring Transmitting Array for Optimal Microwave Power Transmission

Zhou

Yang

Rahim

2018

International Journal of Antennas and Propagation

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Beam capture efficiency (BCE) is one key factor of the overall efficiency for a microwave power transmission (MPT) system, while sparsification of a large-scale transmitting array has a practical significance. If all elements of the transmitting array are excited uniformly, the fabrication, maintenance, and feed network design would be greatly simplified. This paper describes the synthesis method of the sparse uniform-amplitude transmitting array with concentric ring layout using particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm while keeping a higher BCE. Based on this method, uniform exciting strategy, reduced number of elements, and a higher BCE are achieved simultaneously for optimal MPT. The numerical results of the sparse uniform-amplitude concentric ring arrays (SUACRAs) optimized by the proposed method are compared with those of the random-located uniform-amplitude array (RLUAA) and the stepped-amplitude array (SAA), both being reported in the literatures for the maximum BCE. Compared to the RLUAA, the SUACRA saves 32% elements with a 1.1% higher BCE. While compared to the SAA, the SUACRA saves 29.1% elements with a bit higher BCE. The proposed SUACRAs have higher BCEs, simple array arrangement and feed network, and could be used as the transmitting array for a large-scale MPT system.

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Space solar power programs and microwave wireless power transmission technology

Cited by 365 publications

References 24 publications

A metamaterial-inspired, electrically small rectenna for high-efficiency, low power harvesting and scavenging at the global positioning system L1 frequency

A metamaterial-inspired, electrically small rectenna for high-efficiency, low power harvesting and scavenging at the global positioning system L1 frequency

Experimental Analysis of a UAV-Based Wireless Power Transfer Localization System

Synthesis of the Sparse Uniform-Amplitude Concentric Ring Transmitting Array for Optimal Microwave Power Transmission

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