High density and efficiency
Scalable to higher power
Low height
Lightweight
High performance power modules optimized for 48V power delivery
Kilowatts of power in a small space
Vicor high performance power modules require dramatically less space than traditional discrete power solutions while providing high efficiency and power density, whether going from HV to SELV or SELV to PoL. This enables increased run time and productivity without sacrificing navigation, sensing and safety features.
Advanced power architectures
By adopting the modular approach power modules can be paralleled or swapped, allowing designs to accommodate new loads or changes in power. Easily scale power to meet increasing requirements in UAV systems, while allowing the same power architecture to be deployed across diverse UAV platforms.
Improved thermal management
Vicor high-efficiency and thermally adept power modules significantly reduce the heat generated and effectively remove it from the UAV, increasing its reliability and agility without taking up additional space or adding weight.
Quickly implement a power solution
Vicor provides tested and qualified power modules to build power delivery networks that can be designed quickly without all the wasted time and effort to test and certify a new discrete design. This enables our customers to get to market faster, giving them a distinct advantage over their competition.
The 48V power delivery network
Efficiently converting higher voltages to a 48V bus
Converting 800V or 400V to 48V
For UAVs powered by high voltage batteries Vicor high-density BCM fixed-ratio, isolated converters safely convert a high-voltage input into standard SELV output to power a 48V bus. BCM power modules are the most efficiently way to convert high voltage to SELV voltages.
Converting non-SELV batteries to 48V
For UAVs powered by lower voltage batteries such as 100V, Vicor DCM power modules provide regulated 24 or 48V (as shown) distribution from the battery for payloads and downstream converters. The Vicor DCM is a highly efficient, DC-DC converter operating from an wide input range to generate an isolated output.
Converting a high-voltage tether to 48V
On board a remote operated vehicle, Vicor BCM power modules isolate and step-down the high voltage from the tether to a 48V SELV. The compact, lightweight BCM reduces the size and weight of the UAV, as well as to dramatically reduce the diameter and weight of the tether itself to reduce weight, size and drag.
Powering loads on the 48V bus
Once a 48V bus is established – from either a 48V battery or a higher voltage source converted to 48V – Vicor power modules at the point-of-load deliver high performance with the smallest footprint. The Vicor DCM is an isolated, regulated DC-DC converter that provides superior power density. The non-isolated Vicor ZVS buck and buck-boost regulators provide an efficient, lightweight and compact solution for supporting a wide range of loads from 2.2V to 54V. When high power is required, the PRM 48V to 48V voltage regulator has an extremely wide output range to conform to point-of-load requirements.
Case studies
Tethered, aerial/underwater vehicles
High-density, high-power modules enable lighter, safer, lower cost tether cables to extend missions