Optimal tracking algorithm for laser powered unmanned aerial vehicles

With the development of space industry and new energy technology, small electric unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have higher application value in modern warfare and scientific research,etc. The proposal of laser wireless energy transmission technology can effectively solve the problem of short life of small electric UAV, and greatly improve the work efficiency of UAV. Based on the structure principle of UAV laser energy supply system, a maximum power point optimization tracking method for the characteristics of laser wireless power supply to small electric UAV was proposed, which referred to the optimal control algorithm combined with the constant voltage (CV) method and the firefly algorithm (FA). After the laser was projected onto the photovoltaic panel on the drone, by tracking the maximum power point during the drone laser wireless charging process, the laser utilization got higher and the charging was more stable. Finally, numerical simulation was conducted and results can verified the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed algorithm.