Wireless power transfer with unmanned aerial vehicles: State of the art and open challenges

Abstract

Wireless power transfer (WPT) techniques are emerging as a fundamental component of next-generation energy management in mobile networks. In this context, the use of UAVs opens many possibilities, either using them as mobile energy storage devices to recharge IoT nodes, or to prolong their operation time via smart charging themselves at ground stations. This paper surveys the recent literature on WPT as it applies to UAVs and identifies several open research challenges for the future. As a first step, we tessellate the related research corpus in four fundamental categories (architectures, power and communications enabling technologies, optimization with respect to spatial concepts, optimization of operational aspects). Second, for each category, we provide a critical review of the recent WPT UAV approaches with respect to the way they specialize the general concept of WPT and the extent of their applicability. The survey presents the latest advances in WPT UAV methodologies and related energy-centric services, spanning all the way from the communications aspects deep in the small- and large-scale deployments, up to the operational and applications aspects. Finally, motivated by the rich conclusions of this critical analysis, we identify open challenges for future research. Our approach is horizontal, as the selected publications were drawn from across all vertical areas of research on UAVs. This paper can help the readers to deeply understand how WPT is currently applied to UAVs, and select interesting open research opportunities to pursue.