Drone Charging Station
Unparalleled Industry Growth
The drone industry is currently valued at 13.44 billion as of 2020, and is expected to grow at a compound aggregate growth rate (CAGR) of 57.5% from 2021 to 2028.
This presents incredible opportunity for companies innovative in drone technologies; whether it be drones themselves, drone infrastructure, and even advanced drone software.
Credit: Grandview Research (2020)
Designing the Charging Station
HATSU Japan partnered with the University of San Diego to develop a prototype-assisted landing system for small UAVs.
The system incorporates a mechanism that adjusts the wireless charging stage so that charging can occur even if the drone lands slightly off its target. By installing an automatic landing system and software for image processing, the drone can identify the DST from the sky and accurately set it down on the DST landing point.
We are employing a method based on a phenomenon called the Seebeck effect that utilizing gaps in temperature to generate electricity. By considering the environment and using renewable energy in an eco-charging system, in turn, helps to promote sustainable development.
This animation outlines how the drone charging station functions. While the drone charges, the station downloads the drone’s flight log while recording data from the drone via built-in wifi on the station.
After analyzing the data, a new flight mission will be sent as the drone continues its charging cycle until it is ready to be deployed again.
Applications for the Drone Charging Station
Delivery/Logistics
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increased deployment of drones for the delivery of a wide range of medical equipment, cargo, and parcels, among others. This is majorly due to increased emphasis on contactless deliveries to remote areas at a faster pace compared to traditional delivery channels. This has led to increased demand for delivery drones in 2020.
With the increased demand for drone delivery services globally, various countries are easing the regulations to support the operation of drones in their airspace. This is expected to accelerate the growth in procurements of drones to offer new delivery routes for remote areas during the forecast period.
As the market is currently in its infancy stage with enormous opportunities in the industry, various companies have been investing in developing and deploying their fleet of delivery drones. Furthermore, over the years, various companies have entered into the market that have performed their first flights and received approvals from bodies regarding the usage of delivery drones. Such developments are anticipated to propel the growth of the market in the coming years.
Construction
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly replacing traditional land-surveillance methods. They are growing in popularity so rapidly that some have even abandoned the classic “bird’s-eye view” expression with “drones eye view.” Drones greatly reduce the labor and time involved in producing accurate surveys. Drones eliminate much of the human error involved in the process and have the ability to capture necessary data in much less time than traditional methods would take.
Drones provide superior endurance and intelligence on job sites. Their ability to collect and report data allows them to complete work faster. The need for manual labor is all but removed from the equation. In the future, drones will take on even more integral tasks involved in large projects. They are poised to cut the time it takes to build a skyscraper by a broad margin, thereby cutting costs. Contractors who rely on drones will be able to make much more ambitious bids and complete work on time.
Agriculture
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are rapidly replacing traditional land-surveillance methods. They are growing in popularity so rapidly that some have even abandoned the classic “bird’s-eye view” expression with “drones eye view.” Drones greatly reduce the labor and time involved in producing accurate surveys. Drones eliminate much of the human error involved in the process and have the ability to capture necessary data in much less time than traditional methods would take.
Drones provide superior endurance and intelligence on job sites. Their ability to collect and report data allows them to complete work faster. The need for manual labor is all but removed from the equation. In the future, drones will take on even more integral tasks involved in large projects. They are poised to cut the time it takes to build a skyscraper by a broad margin, thereby cutting costs. Contractors who rely on drones will be able to make much more ambitious bids and complete work on time.
5G and IoD - The Future of Drone Technology
- 5G is the next generation of wireless network technology that will fuel innovation and transform the way we live, work, and play.
For drones, this infrastructure will allow them to operate and upload/download flight information at incredible speeds and response times. - 5G Networks support Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication (URLLC), enabling Internet of Drones (IoD) technology. IoD will improve drone latency issues and sense and avoid technology, allowing drones to communicate with each other.
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