A Review of Lightweight Magnetically Coupled Wireless Power Transfer Technology for UAVs

ABSTRACT

The limited endurance of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) restricts their operating range and large‐scale deployment. Magnetically coupled wireless power transfer (WPT) can support autonomous UAV charging without exposed electrical contacts or frequent manual connection. However, the limited payload of UAVs places strict limits on the mass and size of the airborne receiver. This paper reviews recent advances in lightweight magnetically coupled WPT for UAVs. The review first examines representative commercial products and relevant standards are also examined to show how laboratory prototypes differ from deployable charging systems. Then, focus will be placed on examining research in four technical domains: lightweight coupling‐coil design, circuit‐architecture optimisation, transmitter‐side control and lightweight magnetic and artificial materials. Based on these studies and their reported trade‐offs, a unified set of evaluation criteria is then used to compare lightweight designs using quantitative indicators and practical operating requirements. The review shows that receiver mass alone is not sufficient for judging a design; efficiency, charging accuracy, landing tolerance, electromagnetic and thermal performance, environmental durability, maintenance and ground‐station requirements must also be considered. Finally, the paper identifies current engineering problems and corresponding development directions for lightweight UAV WPT.