Skycharge Secures Japanese Patent for Cross-Platform Drone Charging
𝗔 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲
At Skycharge, we believe that infrastructure is the key to enabling autonomy at scale. We're proud to announce a significant milestone: our cross-platform drone charging system is now patent-protected in Japan.
This patent extends our existing IP portfolio—already granted in Europe and the United States—and underscores our commitment to delivering a globally standardized solution for automated, contact-based drone docking and charging..
Together, the two companies aim to accelerate the deployment of BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) drone operations — across ports, urban environments, critical infrastructure, and logistics corridors.
Japan has long been a global leader in drone regulation and commercialization. Regulatory bodies have accelerated frameworks enabling BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) operations, unlocking potential for drone-based solutions in logistics, public safety, energy inspection, and infrastructure monitoring.
Domestic leaders like ACSL are scaling operations, and telecom providers such as KDDI have conducted early trials using Skycharge’s technology—showing how automated charging can dramatically increase uptime while reducing human intervention.
The Japanese patent marks a strategic step forward: Skycharge is now positioned to support nationwide drone infrastructure deployments with a resilient, proven, and standards-ready solution.
Skycharge’s Japanese Patent
𝗔 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄
Lightweight integration – 16–25g onboard module, suitable for ultralight to VTOL platforms
High power delivery – up to 1.5 kW output for industrial drone fast-charging
Battery-agnostic – adaptive control supports multiple chemistries and voltages
Weatherproof resilience – zero moving parts for all-weather reliability
Drone-agnostic architecture – works with any UAV form factor
𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹-𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀
Public safety & disaster response – enables persistent operations without human exposure
Energy & utilities inspection – supports long-term unmanned deployments at remote sites
Urban & rural logistics – scalable charging for BVLOS delivery drones
Telecom & 5G tower monitoring – uninterrupted ops in harsh environments
𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗦𝗸𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗨𝗔𝗩 𝗢𝗽𝘀
| Category | Skycharge | Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | ✔ 92% wired efficiency | ✘ Lower, especially outdoors |
| Power-to-Weight Ratio | ✔ 16–25g onboard unit, up to 1.5 kW | ✘ Heavier, reduces UAV performance |
| Integration | ✔ 5-minute retrofit, no impact on aerodynamics | ✘ Complex, reduces endurance |
| Drone Compatibility | ✔ Works with any battery-powered UAV | ✘ Impractically heavy for larger UAVs |
| Docking Tolerance | ✔ Up to 1m offset tolerated | ✘ Needs precise alignment |
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁?
This patent is more than protection—it’s a signal.
It signals to Japan’s drone ecosystem that Skycharge is ready to support commercialization.
It signals to OEMs that they can build on us, license our IP, and fast-track deployments.
It signals to regulators and mission planners that we offer a safe, proven, scalable infrastructure layer for autonomous flight.
We hope this announcement sparks deeper collaborations with organizations pushing the boundaries of drone autonomy.
