A Novel Multi-Core Parallel Current Differential Sensing Approach for Tethered UAV Power Cable Break Detection

Area of Science:

• Engineering
• Robotics
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Tethered unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) require robust safety systems to prevent accidents caused by power cable failures.
• Existing power cable break detection methods, such as fiber optic sensing and impedance analysis, are often prohibitively expensive or add significant weight to UAVs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, low-cost, and lightweight real-time power cable break detection system for terrestrial tethered UAVs.
• To improve the safety and reliability of tethered UAV operations through enhanced cable health monitoring.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a multi-core parallel sensing system utilizing ACS712 Hall sensors.
• Development of a real-time break detection algorithm based on monitoring current differential (ΔI) across parallel sensor cores.
• Integration of LMV324-based differential circuits for optimized sensor deployment and signal processing.

Main Results:

• Achieved 100% detection accuracy with zero false positives in tests.
• Reduced hardware cost to USD 3, representing a 99.99% cost reduction compared to fiber optic systems.
• Decreased payload by 18% and power consumption by 23% compared to traditional methods.
• Enhanced mean time between failures (MTBF) by 83% with a 4-core architecture.

Conclusions:

• The proposed dual innovation offers a cost-effective and high-reliability solution for tethered UAV power cable health monitoring.
• The system establishes a new paradigm for sensing systems in demanding terrestrial UAV applications.
• Preliminary analysis indicates potential for adaptation to underwater environments with further development.