Skycharge offers an autonomous, cross‑platform charging ecosystem for drones, including ultra‑fast programmable chargers, modular docking stations, and all‑in‑one hangar solutions that are weatherproof and IP55‑rated. The system detects battery polarity, protects against reverse current, and communicates battery status via PLC or UART, enabling remote monitoring, dynamic charging profiles, and 24/7 operation without human intervention. It is targeted at commercial drone operators, infrastructure inspection firms, and government agencies that need continuous BVLOS or VTOL missions in remote or harsh environments.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Drone operations that require continuous flight time depend on manual battery swapping or charging, which limits autonomy, increases labor costs, and restricts deployment in remote or harsh environments.
Solution
Skycharge provides an autonomous, cross‑platform charging ecosystem that integrates programmable contact‑based charging hardware with modular docking stations and an all‑in‑one hangar solution. The system detects battery polarity, protects against reverse current, and communicates battery status via power‑line communication (PLC) or UART, enabling dynamic adjustment of charging profiles based on state‑of‑charge and health. Remote management is available through an Ethernet‑connected Linux controller and a cloud UI that logs charging data and supports firmware updates. The hardware is weatherproof (IP55) and engineered in Germany to operate in demanding outdoor conditions, allowing drones to land, dock, and recharge without human intervention, thus supporting 24/7 autonomous missions.
Target Audience
Primary customers are commercial drone operators, utility and infrastructure inspection firms, and government agencies that require continuous, BVLOS or VTOL drone missions in remote or harsh settings.
Features
- Ultra‑fast, programmable charging sources (750 W and 1500 W) with adjustable voltage (11‑57 VDC or up to 60 VDC) and current (0.1‑30 A) across up to nine output terminals
- Two sink variants: lightweight “LIGHT” board (up to 20 A) for small drones and PLC‑enabled “PLC” board (up to 30 A) with battery‑characteristic storage and UART interface for smart‑battery control
- Reverse‑current protection and inductive‑load safeguarding to ensure safe charging of any battery chemistry
- Integrated power‑line communication allowing the source to read battery parameters in real time and adapt charging curves automatically
- Ethernet‑based remote monitoring and control via a BeagleBone Black Linux board, with cloud UI for historical data, alerts, and firmware upgrades
- IP55‑rated aluminum enclosure and multicore cabling for robust operation in extreme weather, dust, and vibration environments
- Open‑source software stack (GitHub) supporting REST, ZMQ, and UART protocols for easy integration with existing drone fleet management systems