Triboelectric Sensor with a Hierarchical Structure for Omnidirectional Adaptive Wind Speed and Wind Direction Sensing for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have transformed sectors, such as agriculture and logistics, requiring accurate environmental sensing for optimal functionality. Among various environmental factors, wind speed and direction are vital to flight stability and energy efficiency. However, existing UAV anemometer technologies face challenges, including large size, high power consumption, and complex integration. In this study, a novel wind speed and direction (WSD) sensor, referred to as WSD-TENG, is introduced based on the principles of triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs). The WSD-TENG consists of a thin-film TENG integrated with a wind vane for wind speed detection and a disk-shaped TENG for monitoring wind direction. An extensive evaluation of the structural parameters and output performance of the WSD-TENG demonstrates its ability to function across wind speeds from 2.6 to 30.0 m/s with a 5° resolution in the wind direction, showing high stability. The WSD-TENG exhibits a linear relationship between wind speed and output voltage frequency, with a goodness of fit of 0.9995, and proves to have strong long-term reliability. Additionally, testing under simulated environmental conditions validates its dependability in various settings. A WSD-TENG-compatible signal processing module has also been developed for integration with UAVs, enabling its application in practical UAV operations.