| Description |
A resonant inductive wireless power transfer (WPT) system has been designed to wirelessly power a micro-aerial vehicle (MAV) to extend flight time and eliminate the need for batteries. The WPT system consists of a seven-turn, 19-cm transmit coil that is able to deliver over 15 W of power to a 13-cm receive coil attached to the MAV. Effective wireless power transfer requires the MAV to be positioned within the range of the power transmit coil. This thesis focuses on the design, fabrication, characterization, and implementation of a high-frequency magnetic-field position sensor for closed-loop control of a MAV within the transmit coil. A compact magnetic-field position sensor, with a footprint of 1.9 cm by 1.9 cm and weighing approximately 1.3 grams, is designed for the MAV. The sensor is characterized and calibrated for sensing the displacement of theMAV relative to the power transmit coil. A feedback controller is designed that utilizes the sensor output for position control. Experimental results show that the MAV and sensor system can hover in a stable configuration at approximately 20 cm above the power transmit coil. |
