Authors:

Jamie Chanadol Henson

Date Created:

Not specified

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About Paper:

This research project explores a method for autonomously extending the endurance of small UAVs through midair battery swapping. Thus, enabling a quadrotor drone ("receiver") to rendezvous with a second drone ("supplier") and exchange its depleted battery mid-flight, eliminating the need to land for recharging and allowing increased endurance anywhere. This capability could dramatically improve the persistence of UAV operations in fields such as search and rescue, monitoring, and logistics. The methods involved designing a dual-drone system where the receiver uses onboard sensors and guidance logic to dock with the supplier. The team developed the autonomy software in Python and integrated it with a Pixhawk flight controller, focusing on guidance, navigation, and control (GNC) for reliable docking. A third, smaller backup battery ensures the receiver remains powered during the battery exchange. The team implemented a custom-made copper-bladed plug prototype that enables convenient battery swapping while maintaining high current flow and providing electrical contact. The results demonstrate that autonomous midair docking and power continuity through a battery swap are feasible at lab scale. Early flight tests show stable hovering and guidance with onboard power maintained are needed during swap transitions. In conclusion, a new direction for long- endurance drone missions has emerged, enabling continuous operations through in-air energy replenishment. Future work includes improving docking precision, mechanical reliability, and scaling to more complex mission profiles. Keywords: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle; Autonomy; Control; Aerospace Engineering; Electrical Engineering

Source:

Purdue University / 2025

Topics:

No topics listed

Co-authors:

Jamie Chanadol Henson