High-voltage Electrostatic Adhesion for Long-Term Perching of Micro Aerial Vehicles

Abstract The flight endurance of micro aerial vehicles is typically limited, requiring them to return for battery replacement after short missions. Using electrostatic adhesion for long-term perching at elevated sites provides an effective solution for extending high-view missions. However, achieving strong adhesion often requires high voltage, which usually involves large inverter devices, complicating integration into the vehicle. To this end, a high-voltage electrostatic adhesion system has been developed, incorporating a lightweight kilovolt booster circuit and adapted electrostatic adhesion, confirmed to effectively extend the endurance of micro aerial vehicles’ high-view perch missions across the day and night when integrated with a solar power system.