Ambient Power Supply for On-Board Vehicle Health Monitoring MEMS Sensors

In Phase I, Ambient Micro successfully demonstrated the capability of its Multi-Source Ambient Power Supply module to simultaneously harvest and store energy from multiple ambient sources to extend the operating life of MEMS Vehicle Health Monitoring sensors for UAV-mounted sensor systems. As the U.S. Air Force increasingly evolves UAV mission roles to support persistent surveillance, persistent strike, and communications relay missions, its will require additional power to extend the endurance of UAV sensor payloads and for “over the horizon” communications. In Phase II, Ambient Micro will develop and demonstrate a UAV Ambient Power Supply prototype that supports these increasing power requirements for advanced sensor payloads, onboard avionics and communications. Higher power will be generated through the combined harvesting of engine waste heat and other ambient solar and vibration sources. The UAV Ambient Power Supply prototype will be designed to generate 100 watts of power at a weight of less than 1 Kg. The UAV ambient power supply will reduce the UAV fuel consumption by eliminating or reducing the power consumed by an electromechanical generator. As a result, the UAV Ambient Power Supply will significantly extend UAV endurance, range, and sensor payload “time over target”.