A drone includes a propulsion system, a processing unit, and a power system having a battery and a power connection port. The power system is configured to receive packetized electrical power over a tether including an air-to-ground power feed attachable to the power connection port. The power system is also configured to supply electrical power to the processing unit, the battery, and the propulsion system. The processing unit is configured to acknowledge receipt of the packetized electrical power. A power delivery system includes a packetized electrical power transmitter and a processing unit. The processing unit is configured to operate the packetized electrical power transmitter to transmit packets of electrical power over a power feed within a tether attached to a drone. The processing unit is also configured to monitor a communication channel within the tether for acknowledgements indicating the drone has received the transmitted packets of electrical power.
SAFE POWERING OF TETHERED DRONE
2020-10-01
Patent
Electronic Resource
English
IPC: | B60L PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES , Antrieb von elektrisch angetriebenen Fahrzeugen / B64C AEROPLANES , Flugzeuge / B64F GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT , Boden- oder Flugzeugträgerdeckeinrichtungen besonders ausgebildet für die Verwendung in Verbindung mit Luftfahrzeugen / H02J CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER , Schaltungsanordnungen oder Systeme für die Abgabe oder Verteilung elektrischer Leistung / H04L TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION , Übertragung digitaler Information, z.B. Telegrafieverkehr / H04W WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS , Drahtlose Kommunikationsnetze |