Systems and methods for uav fuel cell

Abstract

An energy delivery system includes: a solar cell configured to receive solar energy and generate electrical energy; an electrolysis module configured to generate a first fuel from water; a fuel cell configured to generate electricity by reacting the first fuel with a second fuel through an electrochemical reaction, wherein the electricity is used to power a movable platform; and a controller configured to generate instructions for the solar cell to provide the electrical energy to one or more of: (1) the electrolysis module to effect operation of the electrolysis module, and (2) the movable platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An energy delivery system, comprising:
 a solar cell configured to receive solar energy and generate electrical energy;   an electrolysis module configured to generate a first fuel from water;   a fuel cell configured to generate electricity by reacting the first fuel with a second fuel through an electrochemical reaction, wherein the electricity is used to power a movable platform; and   a controller configured to generate instructions for the solar cell to provide the electrical energy to one or more of: (1) the electrolysis module to effect operation of the electrolysis module, and (2) the movable platform.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to receive the instructions from the controller, and switch between a first position and a second position in response to the instructions;   wherein:
 the switch electrically connects the solar cell with the electrolysis module when the switch is in the first position; and 
 the switch electrically connects the solar cell to the movable platform when the switch is in the second position. 
   
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable platform is an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage unit configured to receive energy from the solar cell or the fuel cell, wherein the energy storage unit includes one or more battery cells. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 4 , wherein the energy storage unit is configured to provide energy to the electrolysis module or the movable platform. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fuel is hydrogen, and the second fuel is oxygen. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a fuel storage container configured to store the first fuel. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fuel storage container is a conformable bag having a chamber for storing the first fuel. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fuel storage container is a structurally rigid tank having a chamber for storing the first fuel. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 7 , wherein the fuel storage container comprises a fuel storage material, and the first fuel is stored in the fuel storage material via absorption or by chemically reacting with the fuel storage material. 
     
     
         11 . The system according to  claim 10 , wherein the fuel storage material comprises a complex hydride. 
     
     
         12 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second fuel is delivered to the fuel cell from an ambient environment via forced air flow. 
     
     
         13 . The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the air flow is forced with aid of one or more propulsion units configured to move the movable platform. 
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cell is configured to generate a liquid byproduct of water. 
     
     
         15 . The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the water is collected in a receptacle, and the receptacle is in thermal communication with the fuel cell. 
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15 , wherein the electrolysis module is configured to generate hydrogen from water collected in the receptacle. 
     
     
         17 . An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), comprising:
 a propulsion unit configured to effect movement of the UAC; and   an energy delivery system including:
 a solar cell configured to receive solar energy and generate electrical energy; 
 an electrolysis module configured to generate hydrogen from water; 
 a fuel cell configured to generate electricity by reacting the hydrogen with another fuel through an electrochemical reaction, wherein the electricity is used to power the UAV; and 
 a controller configured to generate instructions for the solar cell to provide the electrical energy to one or more of: (1) the electrolysis module to effect operation of the electrolysis module, and (2) the UAV. 
   
     
     
         18 . The UAV according to  claim 17 , wherein the UAV includes a housing configured to contain one or more of the electrolysis module and the fuel cell. 
     
     
         19 . The UAV according to  claim 18 , wherein the housing includes a central cavity and one or more branch cavities within one or more corresponding arms of the UAV. 
     
     
         20 . The system according to  claim 19 , wherein the central cavity and the one or more branch cavities are within fluidic communication of one another.