| CPC H02J 50/005 (2020.01) [B64D 47/00 (2013.01); G05D 1/104 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. A system for wireless power transmission, comprising:
a plurality of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), each comprising a transfer medium reservoir, an onboard power conversion unit comprising a fuel cell, a communication module, a navigation module, a power delivery interface having a range, and at least one sensor, each UAV of the plurality of UAVs configured to:
autonomously interface with a transfer medium source;
autonomously receive a chemical power transfer medium into the transfer medium reservoir of the UAV, the chemical power transfer medium being hydrogen gas produced by the transfer medium source;
autonomously fly to a target area centered on a power recipient having a power demand, the target area having a size based at least in part on the range of the power delivery interface of the UAV, the UAV being guided by the navigation module, wherein the flight of the UAV is powered by the onboard power conversion unit fueled by chemical power transfer medium obtained from the transfer medium source;
autonomously identify a landing zone at least partially overlapping with the target area using at least one sensor, the landing zone sized and shaped to contain at least the smallest area required by the UAV for landing and takeoff;
autonomously land within the landing zone;
provide chemical power transfer medium to the onboard power conversion unit in fluidic communication with the transfer medium reservoir, the onboard power conversion unit being communicatively coupled to the power recipient; and
evaluate at least one directive to decide what action to take based on feedback received from at least one of the communication module, the navigation module, and at least one sensor;
a fleet control system communicatively coupled to the plurality of UAVs, the fleet control system configured to operate the plurality of UAVs as a swarm to meet the power demands of a plurality of power recipients, the fleet control system configured to:
generate at least one directive whose evaluation, for a state of the swarm, will result in the allocation of UAVs to each power recipient of the plurality of power recipients such that the power demands of the plurality of power recipients are met, wherein the at least one directive is generated using a mean-field model; and
distribute the at least one directive to the communication module of each UAV of the swarm, such that all UAVs in the swarm are evaluating the same at least one directive.
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