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

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 (LTC35881) 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 (Vout) 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 Vout – 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.