Predicting EMI in UAVs using characteristic mode analysis: a case study of the DJI Phantom 4

Area of Science:

• Electrical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Electromagnetics

Background:

• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are vital in Internet of Things (IoT) but face operational challenges due to electromagnetic interference (EMI).
• Existing research often uses simplified models, potentially limiting the accuracy of electromagnetic susceptibility assessments for complex UAV systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To comprehensively assess the electromagnetic interference (EMI) susceptibility of a DJI Phantom 4 UAV.
• To identify specific components vulnerable to EMI and validate findings through experimental testing.

Main Methods:

• Characteristic Mode Analysis (CMA) incorporating all UAV subsystems for enhanced accuracy.
• Wide frequency range analysis to identify components with high induced currents.
• Experimental validation to confirm EMI-induced failure risks and component vulnerability.

Main Results:

• UAVs exhibit increased susceptibility to EMI at higher frequencies.
• Long power supply wires, particularly those connecting motors to Electronic Speed Controller (ESC) boards, are highly susceptible to EMI.
• Experimental results confirmed the vulnerability of these power supply cables to EMI-induced damage.

Conclusions:

• Detailed structural modeling is essential for accurate electromagnetic assessments of UAVs.
• Shielding power supply cables, similar to coaxial cable design, is recommended to improve UAV electromagnetic resilience.
• Findings offer practical insights for enhancing the performance of various UAV designs in electromagnetically dense environments.