Analysis of the electromagnetic field effect of proximity lightning strikes by rotary-wing UAV

Zhao Qingchen; Fu Shangchen; Shi Lihua

doi:10.11884/HPLPB202537.250127

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Zhao Qingchen, Fu Shangchen, Shi Lihua. Analysis of the electromagnetic field effect of proximity lightning strikes by rotary-wing UAV[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250127

Citation:

Zhao Qingchen, Fu Shangchen, Shi Lihua. Analysis of the electromagnetic field effect of proximity lightning strikes by rotary-wing UAV[J]. High Power Laser and Particle Beams. doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250127

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Analysis of the electromagnetic field effect of proximity lightning strikes by rotary-wing UAV

doi: 10.11884/HPLPB202537.250127

Zhao Qingchen^{1, 2
,},
Fu Shangchen^{1
,
,},
Shi Lihua¹

1.
National key laboratory of electromagnetic environmental effects and electro-optical engineering, Army engineering university of PLA, Nanjing, 210007, China
2.
School of mechanical engineering, Nanjing university of science and technology, Nanjing, 210094, China

Received Date: 2025-04-08
Accepted Date: 2025-09-01
Rev Recd Date: 2025-09-02

Available Online: 2025-09-15

Abstract

Abstract

Background
With the increasing application of rotorcraft drones in fields such as airborne detection of thunderstorm electromagnetic fields, their operational safety in near-lightning environments has drawn widespread attention. The intense electromagnetic pulses generated by nearby lightning strikes can induce coupled currents in the internal cables of drones, thereby posing a risk of damage to the drone system.
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the electromagnetic coupling effects of nearby lightning pulse electromagnetic fields on the internal cables of rotorcraft drones and to evaluate and analyze the induced currents generated on different functional modules.
Methods
By simulating near-lightning pulse electromagnetic field environments experimentally, under various conditions including electric field strengths of 240 kV, 280 kV, and 320 kV, and magnetic field strengths ranging from 80 to 1600 A/m, induced current measurements were conducted on key internal cables connected to the motor, electronic speed controller (ESC), flight control module, GPS, and receiver.
Results
The experimental results show that under pulsed electric fields, all tested cables exhibited significant induced currents, with the highest peak current of 12 A occurring between the motor and the ESC. Pulsed magnetic fields mainly induced currents during the voltage signal rise phase, reaching a peak value of 0.18 A under the 1600 A/m condition.
Conclusions
When operating in a near-lightning environment, drones generate induced currents, which pose certain risks to their normal operation. Therefore, certain protective measures are necessary for critical modules such as GPS and key cables. Owing to time constraints, this study did not further analyze the impact of near-lightning electromagnetic environments on data links, and the influence of drone cable layout on induced currents warrants further investigation.
- rotary-wing UAV,
- proximity lightning strikes,
- pulsed electromagnetic fields,
- coupling effects

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References(23)

References

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