Invertible drone for selective power capture
First Claim
1. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a drone having photovoltaic cells on at least one side of the drone (the “
- photovoltaic surface”
) to perform operations, comprising;
determining, by the processor of the drone, a flight attitude for the drone based on one or more of a first drone attitude and a second drone attitude,wherein in the first drone attitude, more light energy is harvested by the drone as compared to when in the drone is in the second drone attitude, andwherein in the second drone attitude, power expenditure by an onboard propulsion system of the drone is reduced as compared to when the drone is in the first drone attitude; and
flying the drone, by the processor controlling the drone, in the determined flight attitude while converting light into electricity en route to a designated destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments include methods for operating a photovoltaic-powered drone having a photovoltaic surface on one side of at least one of wing or fuselage body of the drone. The method may include determining a flight attitude for the drone based on a first drone attitude for optimizing light energy harvesting by the photovoltaic surface and a second drone attitude for minimizing power expenditure by an onboard propulsion system of the drone to reach a designated destination. The method may include flying the drone in the determined flight attitude while converting light into electricity en route to the designated destination.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processor of a drone having photovoltaic cells on at least one side of the drone (the “
- photovoltaic surface”
) to perform operations, comprising;determining, by the processor of the drone, a flight attitude for the drone based on one or more of a first drone attitude and a second drone attitude, wherein in the first drone attitude, more light energy is harvested by the drone as compared to when in the drone is in the second drone attitude, and wherein in the second drone attitude, power expenditure by an onboard propulsion system of the drone is reduced as compared to when the drone is in the first drone attitude; and flying the drone, by the processor controlling the drone, in the determined flight attitude while converting light into electricity en route to a designated destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- photovoltaic surface”
Specification