Power management for enhancing quadcopter's endurance

• Main Author: Leong, Edwin Kar Ming
• Other Authors: Lim Meng Hiot
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2015
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Electrical and electronic engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/64161
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This report examines the use of wireless charging technology on a single-cell quadcopter. The idea is to use using a solar panel to act as a source for electrical energy harvester, then storing its energy using a super-capacitor before discharging it to the wireless induction coil located on the self-designed landing platform. The purpose is to aid the power management of the quadcopter and also reduce the trouble of manually charging or changing the battery on the copter. The methodology encompass the self-designed landing platform, fitted it with the transmitting induction coil to allow transmission of electrical power wirelessly, as it gathers its main electrical source from the solar panel. Such approach of storing energy will allow adequate energy throughout the day, on as and when the need for charging the copter arises. At the same time, design changes were made to the quadcopter such as eliminating unwanted components so as to reduce the total weight and allow more space for other components to be added in. Other components were also added in to provide the charging of the battery and also to track the voltage of it, the components are as such; voltage divider, voltage tracker with timer (OpenLog), Lipo-Battery charger, Analog to Digital converter (ProMicro) and receiving induction coil were included on the quadcopter. The individual components previously mentioned will be further explained with appropriate figures. In general, the entire project explores the possibility of better enhancing power management by means of wireless charging compared to the traditional charging method. The project also allows data logging technology to closely monitor the fluctuation of voltage when it is operating. Most importantly, the author will investigate in some of the consideration factors such as reducing the amount of components and the electrical consumption of each individual component. With this prototype quadcopter, it allows many possibilities for further enhancement and improvement for better transmission of power and rapid charging, and the expansion to higher cell copters.