Distributed Robust Routing Optimization for Laser-Powered UAV Cluster with Temporary Parking Charging

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) clusters are increasingly deployed in power system applications, such as transmission line inspection, fault diagnosis, and post-disaster emergency communication restoration. Nonetheless, limitations of range and battery capacity have rendered the assurance of uninterrupted task operation a critical concern. Efficient cooperation and energy replenishment solutions are crucial for effective UAV cluster scheduling to resolve this issue. This study proposes an innovative scheduling method that integrates UAV path planning with laser-based remote charging technology. Initially, a scheduling model incorporating both energy consumption and task completion time is established. Subsequently, an integrated laser-powered UAV model is proposed, unifying charging operations with mission execution processes. Furthermore, a distributed robust optimization (DRO) framework is proposed to handle spatiotemporal uncertainties, particularly those caused by weather conditions. Finally, the proposed scheduling method is applied to a disaster recovery scenario of a power system. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed strategy significantly outperforms traditional scheduling methods without remote charging by achieving higher task completion rates and improved energy efficiency. These findings substantiate the effectiveness and engineering feasibility of the proposed method in enhancing UAV cluster operational capabilities under stringent energy constraints.