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Application of PVDF Transducers for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Author

Listed:
  • Laís dos Santos Gonçalves

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil)

  • Ricardo Morais Leal Pereira

    (Department of Electrical Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil)

  • Rafael Salomão Tyszler

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil)

  • Maria Clara A. M. Morais

    (Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil)

  • Carlos Roberto Hall Barbosa

    (Postgraduate Metrology Programme, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, Marquês de São Vicente Street, 225, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro 22541-041, Brazil)

Abstract

The demand for sustainable energy generation and storage methods has become inevitable. As a result, numerous sectors are investing in research focused on energy harvesting (EH) techniques. In this context, a promising area involves integrating piezoelectric materials into unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)—an application that enables electrical energy generation from the kinetic energies produced during flight. This article aims to use polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric transducers coupled to an EH power management unit (LTC3588-1) to convert and store electrical energy generated by wind from the propellers and motor vibration. Methodologically, the motor and transducers are characterized, a model is developed using LTSpice ® , and experimental validation of the performance of this coupling is carried out for output voltages (V out ) of 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 3.6 V. With a motor rotation speed of 3975 rpm, the transducers generated a voltage amplitude of 17.3 V, enabling the capacitor coupled to the EH power management unit—adjusted to the highest V out —to be charged in approximately 162 s. Thus, this study demonstrated the feasibility of using PVDF as a piezoelectric nanogenerator in UAVs, enabling onboard electronic circuits and sensors to be powered while reserving the battery solely for propulsion, thereby increasing flight autonomy.

Suggested Citation

  • Laís dos Santos Gonçalves & Ricardo Morais Leal Pereira & Rafael Salomão Tyszler & Maria Clara A. M. Morais & Carlos Roberto Hall Barbosa, 2025. "Application of PVDF Transducers for Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:17:p:4759-:d:1744118
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kyrillos K. Selim & Idris H. Smaili & Hossam M. Yehia & M. M. R. Ahmed & Demyana A. Saleeb, 2024. "Piezoelectric Sensors Pressed by Human Footsteps for Energy Harvesting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-13, May.
    2. Igor Nazareno Soares & Ruy Alberto Corrêa Altafim & Ruy Alberto Pisani Altafim & Melkzedekue de Moraes Alcântara Calabrese Moreira & Felipe Schiavon Inocêncio de Sousa & José A. Afonso & João Paulo Ca, 2024. "Investigation of a Magnetic Levitation Architecture with a Ferrite Core for Energy Harvesting," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-11, October.
    3. Ugochukwu Chukwurah & Gordon McTaggart-Cowan, 2024. "Harvesting Electric Energy Using Thermoelectric Generators in a Residential Heating Application," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-19, May.
    4. Yuan, Jinfeng & Zhu, Rong, 2020. "A fully self-powered wearable monitoring system with systematically optimized flexible thermoelectric generator," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
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