Integrating Inductive Charging Capacity into Hybrid Electric Drone Vehicles and Service Facilities

Integrating Inductive Charging Capacity into Hybrid Electric Drone Vehicles and Service Facilities

As drone aircraft become ever more present on the frontlines of modern warfare technological developments of the underlying logistical capacity will need to be (developed?) augmented to ensure our Nation’s Warfighters are receiving maximum benefit from the tools provided to them. 

Ok I should stop trying to sound sophisticated, unfortunately I have no statistics right now on how having aircraft idling on an airfield impacts their ability to rapidly be deployed for long duration missions.

The intent of this proposal is to investigate the potential productivity gains stemming from integrating an inductive charging system into the airfields and roads of facilities using drone aircraft. 

Technical Questions:

*What is the trade off with installing this system, both in costs and changes in vehicle flexibility?

                For drone aircraft does it allow for more rapid deployment?

                For non-combat vehicles, would this allow planes to utilize local power as opposed to idling the aircraft’s engines?

                                -is the rate of energy transfer great enough

                                -accounting for several variables, do the considerations of energy needed for idling make inductive transfer make sense

                                                -added weight of transfer system

                                                -emissions savings

                If an airplane’s propulsion system is hybrid electric, could the inductive energy system provide supplemental power for takeoff, hopefully minimizing the size of the electrical generators.

-Can the 60 cm maximum transmission distance be overcome?

                                -what efficiency tradeoffs exist when distance between source and drain are varied?

                -how much base load draw occurs with no recievers?

                -potential for EM interference both for communication and sensing?

                -while offsetting the potential for a percentage of fuel explosions, what are the risks to personnel that stem from these systems if they are accidentally exposed

                -operational envelope in hot environments

               -cost for installation

                                -can inductive panels be produced, allowing for rapid assembly and break down

                                http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/11/ditch-the-cord-let-the-road-charge-your-ev/

                -impact on mission flexibility for nuclear powered vessels

                              the book Wired for war talks about  the increased volume of air power that could be supplied by utilizing drone aircraft on aircraft carriers to the exclusion of manned aircraft

                             if aircraft are made able to passively re-energize on the flight deck, what is the impact on combat sorties during a given time increment

                             if there is an increase in sortie volume, would the costs make tactical sense

With respect to military applications, does an inductive power transfer airfield make sense in areas where larger scale energy infrastructure isn't available (this question is focused on airfields built for larger aircraft)

Alternative approach, integrating inductive energy transfer systems into smaller shorter range drone aircraft

ex, solar panels that can serve as landing pads at night for small quad copters/helicopters 

                      -using smaller aircraft with inductive charging, could the surfaces of convoy vehicles be transformed into roosting locations, allowing for smaller machines to move from vehicle to vehicle while minimizing exposure for the warfighter

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/automotive/in-depth/your-questions-answered-inductive-charging-for-road-vehicles/1015724.article

http://www.theengineer.co.uk/in-depth/the-big-story/unplugged-inductive-charging-on-the-road/1006269.article

http://singularityhub.com/2013/08/25/korean-road-wirelessly-charges-new-electric-buses/

Induction Power Runways

Just a quick entry as I don't have it flushed out.
For future electric and hybrid electric aircraft, would it be reasonable to create landing strips that have embedded induction coils for power transfer?
The intent of this idea would be to provide additional electricity during takeoff and to supplement whatever onboard generating system was installed.  Said power could also provide the energy needed for taxiing to and from the gate.

Better version coming in a later entry, but I wanted to leave myself some notes
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/aviation/news/how-it-works-laser-beaming-recharges-uav-in-flight-11091133

http://www.wirelesspowerplanet.com/news/project-for-inductive-charging-of-electric-vehicles-started-at-frankfurt-airport/#more-1973

http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/16/showa-aircraft-shows-off-contactless-charging-system-world-back/

http://www.p3-group.com/en/p3-innovation-in-inductive-charging-60855.html

http://blog.cafefoundation.org/?p=5134

Infra-Red Screen

OK so my thoughts are really disjoint, I clearly know the idea I'm trying to share, but I don't know how to say it clearly right now.  So the quick version

Instead of using a green screen behind actors to aid in special effects, have surface coatings that are reflective in very particular spectra of the near infra-red.  By having the coatings occur in the near IR you can have a greater degree of flexibility when it comes to what special effects are added, as well as where they are added.  The other cool advantage, actors could work in slightly more dynamic sets, allowing them to more fully immerse themselves in their environment.

Normally when hollywood films are creating scenes where actors need to be digitally inserted into an alternative environment they will perform their parts in front of either a solid blue or green surface.  The purpose of this surface is to allow computer algorithms to know what parts of the scene need to be replaced by the alternative visuals (yes there some different details when you consider traditional film cameras from back in the day, but this article doesn't deal with it anyways so I'm not covering it*).  While blue/green screening is an incredibly powerful tools, I feel technology gives us opportunities to try a new technique.  

Quick Background  The CCD sensor in traditional video camera's have a much wider sensitivity to the electromagnetic spectrum than the human visual spectrum.  This wider spectrum of sensitivity includes the near infrared range of light, a frequency of light used in TV remotes, security cameras, and Wii controllers.  What is cool is this invisible light can convey a range of information.