Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting in Quadcopter UAVs Based Modeling

This paper presents a detailed investigation into piezoelectric energy harvesting for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) through advanced computational modeling and simulation. The study focuses on optimizing the integration of piezoelectric materials (PZT-5H) into UAV wings to convert mechanical vibrations—induced by aerodynamic forces—into usable electrical energy. A high-fidelity 3D model of a DJI Mini 3 Pro quadcopter was developed, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA) combined with Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was employed to assess energy harvesting efficiency under varying flight conditions. Key findings indicate that optimal placement of piezoelectric patches near high-stress zones yields voltage outputs ranging from 1.54 V to 24.3V with peak performance near resonant frequencies. The study also explores the impact of structural modifications, such as adding a steel fin, to enhance vibration transmission.