Hybrid Battery–Laser Wireless Power Transfer System for Range-Extended Disaster-Relief UAVs: A Coupled Thermal–Electrical Battery Sizing Optimization
Energies, cilt.19, sa.18, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 19 Sayı: 18
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.3390/en19184475
- Dergi Adı: Energies
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: battery sizing, disaster reconnaissance, laser wireless power transfer (LWPT), photovoltaic receiver, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
- Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Extending flight endurance is critical for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) deployed in post-disaster surveillance missions. This study proposes a hybrid battery–laser power system in which a ground-based laser source continuously tracks and charges a photovoltaic (PV) array mounted on a UAV, and develops an integrated optical–thermal–electrical model coupled with a battery-sizing optimization framework. Using a realistic trajectory derived from experimentally measured UAV flight data, the results show that the proposed hybrid system reduces the required battery capacity by up to 23.8% compared with a laser-off configuration. Alternatively, for the same battery capacity, laser-assisted operation extends the achievable mission duration by approximately 23%, enabling longer disaster-relief missions without increasing the UAV payload. These findings provide practical design guidance for developing laser-powered UAV systems for extended disaster-relief operations.