Researchers Harry Huang, Talia Xu, and Marco Zúñiga Zamalloa from the University of Pennsylvania have developed a novel approach to enhance the endurance and navigation of lighter-than-air micro-drones, which could have significant implications for the energy sector and other industries.
The team’s research focuses on addressing two key challenges faced by micro-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): short endurance and unreliable navigation in GPS-denied spaces. Lighter-Than-Air (LTA) drones, which use helium to provide buoyancy, offer an energy-efficient alternative to traditional UAVs. However, their design is complex, and they lack integrated solutions for sustained autonomous operations and navigation.
To tackle these issues, the researchers proposed a compact, self-sustaining LTA drone that uses light for both energy harvesting and navigation. Their work involves three main contributions: a high-fidelity simulation framework to analyze LTA aerodynamics and select a stable, efficient configuration; a framework to integrate solar cells on the envelope to provide net-positive energy; and a point-and-go navigation system with three light-seeking algorithms operating on a single light beacon.
The researchers found that their LTA-analysis, combined with the integrated solar panels, not only saves energy while flying but also enables sustainable operation. Under illuminations of 80klux, the drone can achieve one minute of flying time for every four minutes of energy harvesting. Additionally, the team demonstrated robust single-beacon navigation towards a light source up to 7 meters away, both indoors and outdoors, even with moderate winds.
The practical applications of this research for the energy sector are promising. For instance, these LTA drones could be used for long-term monitoring of energy infrastructure, such as power lines, pipelines, and wind turbines, without the need for frequent battery changes or recharging. This could significantly reduce maintenance costs and improve the overall efficiency of energy systems. Furthermore, the drones’ ability to navigate in GPS-denied spaces makes them suitable for use in remote or indoor environments, such as monitoring storage tanks or inspecting underground facilities.
The research was published in the journal Science Robotics, providing a practical pathway for translating the promise of LTA drones into a persistent, self-sustaining aerial system for various applications, including those in the energy sector.
This article is based on research available at arXiv.