Lightweight self-powered digital aircraft rotational speed sensor up to 10,000 rpm

The low-altitude transport has demonstrated significant growth potential driven by rapid advancements in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) technology. Herein, rotor UAVs are increasingly favored by consumers due to their unique advantages. The UAVs motion is altered by adjusting propeller speed, which is governed by motor speed. Consequently, motor speed is a key factor influencing flight performance that is susceptible to environmental interference. Accurate and real-time monitoring of motor speed is essential. Conventional speed sensors are bulky, reliant on external power, and challenging to integration into compact UAVs systems. They also suffer from insufficient accuracy and unstable measurements, particularly with small motors. This article introduces a self-powered digital aircraft rotational speed sensor (SDARSS) utilizing a rotating triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) to address current challenges. This sensor is lightweight, energy-efficient, and self-powered, weighing only 2.185 g and measuring 3.43 mm in thickness, with an accuracy exceeding 99.94%. It measures speeds up to 10,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) with exceptional precision and stability. The sensor enables real-time monitoring of UAVs motor speeds, which is crucial for enhancing flight safety.