UAV Market Trends and Power System Seminar 2025 Taipei, Taiwan
Power modules enable top performance and innovation for today’s advanced UAVs
Customer’s challenge
Improved sensors, autonomy, mobility and AI (allowing deep learning) is enabling inspection robots to replace humans, especially in hazardous or confined areas like inside pipelines or in storage tanks. Manufacturers are looking for smaller, more robust solutions with ever improved resolution, repeatability and operating range. This manufacturer of tethered sewer inspection robots was looking to improve the sensor resolution and quality of video images without increasing the size of the platform. The key goals were:
- Allow easier handling and room for more sensors by reducing power supply size and weight
- Minimize interference with cable carrying video feed
- Reliable operation in a harsh environment
The Vicor solution
The 48V (SELV) supply to the tether was provided by a PFM AC-DC converter. On board the robot the three rails were provided by three individual regulators.
Key benefits
Key benefits
ZVS buck and buck-boost regulators offered high power density and low weight (0.8g)
Low noise ZVS topology minimized filtering required
High efficiency (up to 92.5%) reduced heat, increasing reliability in high ambient temperatures
Power delivery network
The power delivery network: The 48V tether supply was provided by a PFM AC-DC converter. At the robot the low power 5V and 3.3V rails were provided by ZVS Buck regulators. The higher power 12V motor supply rail was provided by an array of three ZVS Buck-Boost converters that compensated for large voltage drops in the 600m tether. To analyze this power chain go to the Vicor Whiteboard online tool.
Isolated regulated
Input: 85 – 264V
Output: 24V or 48V
Power: Up to 400W
Peak efficiency: 92%
110.55 x 35.54 x 9.40mm
Non-isolated regulated
Inputs: 12V (8 – 18V), 24V (8 – 42V), 48V (30 – 60V)
Output: 2.2 – 16V
Current: Up to 22A
Peak efficiency: 98%
As small as 10.0 x 10.0 x 2.56mm
Non-isolated regulated
Input: 8 – 60V
Output: 10 – 54V
Power: Up to 150W continuous
Efficiency: Over 98%
10.5 x 14.5 x 3.05mm
Resources
Resources for the design engineer
High-density, high-power modules enable lighter, safer, lower cost tether cables to extend missions
This class of unmanned vehicle is powered and controlled via a tether from a ground-based power source assisting in extended missions
High-efficiency, high-density modules free up space for advanced communications and extend range
High-efficiency class of UAV depend on solar power to meet its long flight time requirements
DCM DC-DC converters double the internal bus power and help keep the aircraft as light as possible
High-altitude long-endurance (HALE) UAVs are essentially flying satellites, designed to operate at extremely high altitudes for extended periods