Drone Charging Stations: What’s the Best Way to Charge Your Drone?

February 9th, 2017

Drone technology is growing increasingly popular, as daily uses for drones become more mainstream. From delivering medical aid or our Amazon packages to preserving wildlife and assisting law enforcement, drones are now a part of our everyday lives. So what’s the best way to keep these drones fully charged? Read on to learn about the best charging stations and solutions for drones.

Different Charging Solutions for Drones

So what are the different ways that you can charge your drone? There are currently three major charging solutions available for drones. So which one is the best? Let’s compare them and find out!

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Battery Powered

One of the most obvious charging solutions available for drones is old fashioned batteries. In fact, most consumers think that this is the only way to charge their drones, but we will find out more about that below. Many consumer drones run on electricity, and require a battery source to operate. Drones often require >lithium polymer batteries, or LiPos. A LiPo battery is very reliable and can be recharged making it a very convenient power source. However, the problem with batteries is that they are heavy and often expensive. Also, drones that use batteries require someone to actually plug in the drone to charge, a major con when it comes to the autonomous properties of drones. Furthermore, batteries on motorized vehicles tend to die quickly and replacing them often can be very costly. LiPo batteries are the best charging solution on the market when it comes to battery power drones, as they output power faster, store larger amounts of power, and have a longer life compares to other batteries out there.

Solar Powered

Although not as popular for consumer use, solar power is another way in which drones can be re-energized. Solar powered drones are not mainstream yet, and the technology is still in development, but it’s an exciting alternative to battery powered drones. By placing solar panels on the wings of a drone, solar powered drones can get more air time, compared to those that have to land on the ground every few hours for recharging. However, the technology is not completely there, and can usually only be used on winged drones for the moment.

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Photo Credit: Titan Aerospace

 

Wirelessly Powered

One of the biggest breakthroughs in drone technology is the ability for drones to wirelessly charge via a wireless charging station. Companies are working hard to develop the wireless charging technology, that could revolutionize the drone world. Imagine not ever having to land your drone to charge it? Just simply hover it above a wireless charging station, and allow it to recharge while hovering. Besides the added benefit of longer flight time, a wireless charging station would eliminate the need to buy extra batteries for your drone or have to deal with plugging it in. Read on to find out why drones need wireless charging!

Best Wireless Charging Stations for Drones

The Dronebox

The Dronebox by H3 Dynamics is a charging station currently available for drones. The Dronebox supplies an automated recharging and storage station for drones that can be left unattended for months a time. Besides charging the drone, the Dronebox also stores the drone, opening when required and raising the platform inside so the drone can easily take-off. The drone can then fly around, complete its tasks, and then automatically land back on top of the box. Once back inside, the drone is recharged and made ready for its next flight. All information the drone may have acquired while in flight can be transmitted back to a central operator. The Dronebox truly is revolutionary, not only because it can wireless charge the drone, but also because it provides a home base for the device.

Photo Credit: H3 Dynamics

Photo Credit: H3 Dynamics

Humavox ETERNA Platform

Humavox is changing the way we think about wireless power with its ETERNA platform. At Humavox, we believe that optimal and effective charging technology should be elastic enough so it can wear many shapes and forms. The ETERNA platform was designed to be a flexible hardware platform, meaning that anything from a bowl, backpack, or drawer can be transformed into a wireless charging station. For drones, this is especially relevant. For example, with Humavox’s ETERNA platform, drones used for search and rescue or law enforcement could easily be charged in a drawer attached to a fire truck (see picture below.) Drones would easily be recharged in between flights, making them more effective and reliable! Just pull out the drawer of the fire truck, drop the drone, and let it charge!

Photo Credit: Erez Carmel

Photo Credit: Erez Carmel

Skysense Charging Pad

The Skysense Charging Pad is another wireless charging station for drones that claims to be the one stop automation platform for drones. Based on highly efficient and balanced charging technology, the Skysense Charging Pad is capable of recharging a drone just by having the device land on it. This charging pad is gold-plated, so it has a nice flashy but appealing design, and is equipped with a 100-240 voltage power input and a 10 amp charge rate. Built for both indoor and outdoor use, Skysense can be used in a variety of industries from farming to surveillance. It has a remote control feature, adding to its versatility!

Photo Credit: Skysense

Photo Credit: Skysense

Why Do Drones Need Wireless Charging?

So why is it so important to integrate wireless charging into drone technology? Well drones are supposed to be autonomous. If you don’t need a human pilot on board to fly it, why should you need a human on the ground to charge it? Integrating wireless charging stations with the drone technology already available is key to making drones truly autonomous. Imagine a drone taking off, flying around and completing its mission, whether it’s to take images of a nearby area or deliver medical aid to those in need, then it comes back to its base, lands itself, and recharges.

Most of the fascination with drones stems from the fact that they are self-flying – that they can do something that previously required human intervention. If a drone can fly by itself, we believe it should be able to charge itself too.Think of how much more drone technology could develop, how many more people could benefit from various drone technology if they were able to charge themselves. Bottom line, in order to become truly autonomous, the next step for drones is wireless charging.

The Future of Drones and Wireless Charging Stations

Drones are one of the most powerful forms of technology available today because of their various uses and applications from saving lives to bringing efficiency to a whole new level. But, in order for drones to live up to their full potential and not reply on human intervention, a more effective charging solution is needed. Imagine a drone taking off by itself, flying to your home and delivering a package, then returning to its base to land and charge itself back to full power. That’s the future with wireless charging!