Column: Electric Vehicles
DC-DC converters in detachable, tethered UAVs
By Andrea Banfi, Business Development Manager for Industrial applications, Vicor T
he concept of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is not new; the first pilotless vehicles were built during WW1. However, UAVs continue to evolve rapidly as innovative manufacturers adopt the latest components and materials to optimise their
products for specific applications. FlyFocus is a UAV maker. Originally set up by a group
of friends with shared love of aviation who came together whilst taking part in aeromodelling competitions, FlyFocus today specialises in designing and producing UAVs for the civilian market and law enforcement agencies. Not only are its products used to monitor areas such as borders, power stations and military installations, but also in highway and crowd monitoring, vehicle counting, radio jamming and radio relays. FlyFocus’s CableGuard is the first tethered, detachable
drone in the civilian market, and comprises a tethered UAV, ground station and tracking. This product signalled FlyFocus’s expansion into multi-rotor UAV (drone) technology.
Figure 1: Multifunctional observation system
Tethered Te UAV spends most of its operational life in tethered mode, hovering up to 70m above ground. In this mode, its motors and onboard electronics are powered via the tether cable, which delivers 400VDC from the ground station. Tis DC voltage is derived from a 230VAC input, typically supplied by a portable generator. Tis affords the UAV continuous surveillance, up to 30 days – although in practice it is recommended to land the vehicle every week for maintenance, to inspect its bearings and other mechanical parts. Whilst up in the air, if one of the UAV’s cameras spots a
suspicious object, the tether cable can be immediately detached by a remote command; a parachute deploys and lands the cable close to the ground station. Meanwhile, onboard batteries seamlessly take over the vehicle’s power supply, so the UAV – with a single daylight camera payload – can fly and track freely for up to 30 minutes. With a dual camera (thermal plus daylight) setup, untethered flight time of 20 minutes is possible. Aſter the mission, the vehicle may be reconnected to the ground station to continue its tethered surveillance role. At 5kW load capacity, the UAV is rated as the most powerful
tethered type available today. FlyFocus has used this extra power to enhance both the vehicle’s performance and its functionality. It has eight motors and can be safely landed even if two motors are disabled. Te UAV’s two cameras are full-HD type with 10x optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, and a night-vision IR 640p camera with 4x digital zoom. Te power capacity gives FlyFocus latitude to use better-quality
cameras such as heavy, cooled thermal types, or cameras with better zoom lenses. Additionally, it opens new possibilities for adding different payload modules, such as telecommunications equipment or other specific solutions for individual customer requirements. Vicor’s isolated, regulated DC-DC converters have been
designed into the UAV’s power delivery network from the tether cable to its motors and electronics. Tese devices have contributed to the CableGuard UAV’s power capacity in several ways: First, their ability to buck from 400VDC down to the UAV’s operating
14 June 2023
www.electronicsworld.com
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