Development of an electric vehicle by microwave power transmission

Development of small model vehicle and control of rectenna panel

Abstract

A small model vehicle was developed for experiments using microwave-driven agricultural vehicles. The vehicle has a turntable with a rectenna panel, which is controlled and directed to the transmitting antenna. The vehicle position and attitude information from an image-processing PC are used to control the transmitting turntable and are also transferred to the vehicle through RS-232C communication wire. The microcomputer on the vehicle controls the rotation of the rectenna panel using this information. Results show the necessity of a rapid detection cycle for position and attitude to maintain steady transmission and reception of microwave power.