Case study: Inspection UAVs

Lightweight power delivery networks enable maneuverable UAVs to inspect remote, wide operations

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Customer’s challenge

Inspection UAVs ensure that infrastructure is sound, safe, and functional. These UAVs must be able to be easily maneuvered and nimbly access hard- to-reach spaces to inspect vast terrains. To succeed in their mission, they must also operate reliably in harsh environments and withstand electrical interference from power lines and other high-energy sources. The key goals were:

Customer’s challenge

Extend range and flight time
Minimize size and weight
Reliability to minimize chance of failure during flight

The Vicor solution

Vicor high-efficiency and high-performance power modules enable inspection UAVs to minimize size and weight to maximize the sensor payload required to perform the actual inspection. With enough power and high efficiency, they allow for an agile UAV with increased flight time, even in harsh environments.

Key benefits

High-power density to enable smaller form factor and lower weight

Minimal electromagnetic interference (EMI)

ZVS topology enables modules with up to 98% efficiency

Power delivery network

Power dense Vicor DCM™ DC-DC converters and ZVS Buck and Buck-Boost regulator modules are ideal for inspection UAVs. The compact DCM delivers enough power to the motors, while the Buck and Buck-Boost regulators operate with a wide input range to allow loads to be powered by the full range of the battery, providing a reserve for safe landing and recovery. The compact modules allow for the use of a smaller magnetic shield, thereby reducing that weight in addition to the weight savings of the Vicor modules.