Researchers at the Northwestern University of Technology in Xianyang, China, have demonstrated a drone that doesn’t need to land, thanks to a remote charging system powered via an adaptive target-tracking laser on the ground.
The system uses photoelectric converters on the bottom of the drone to capture energy from lasers. These kinds of systems do a pretty decent job of wireless power transfer, although they are not very efficient. , and the receiver can lose about 50% of its energy.
But electricity is cheap, and these losses are acceptable if being connected to the mains means the surveillance drones never have to go down.
Washington-based company PowerLight, formerly known as LaserMotive, demonstrated a similar wireless drone charging system in 2012, keeping large drones airborne for 48 hours in wind tunnels and flying outdoors from ranges of up to 600m. powered one of Lockheed Martin’s Stalker drones (1,970 feet).
The NPU team has developed an “intelligent visual tracking algorithm” to keep the beam pointed at the drone, and an adaptive beamforming system that can compensate for changes in atmospheric density. We also designed a way to identify obstacles and quickly adjust the beam’s power to a safe level. They tested it on a small quadcopter and demonstrated it works indoors with the lights on and off and outdoors at night with a video showing the drone reaching an altitude of about 10m (33ft).
Northwest University of Technology / China Daily
The long-range capabilities of laser systems suggest that this type of system could open the door to high-altitude drone operations. This could effectively create a permanent airborne platform that functions like a low-altitude satellite. , their use is likely to be weather dependent.
Given that these devices point lasers into the sky, we also expect some regulatory backlash. Citing the device’s military potential, NPU did not disclose the power of the laser, the scope of the system, or its efficiency. But this is clearly an early stage lab prototype.
PowerLight, on the other hand, appears to be very close to commercialization, with the company working on long-range, lightweight, and compact wireless laser power transmission with a functional safety shutdown system and the ability to operate regardless of weather conditions. says.
Northwest University of Technology / China Daily
Aside from military applications, it is interesting to consider how wireless power will affect other electric aircraft, especially power-hungry eVTOL air taxis. A city-wide grid of laser chargers that energize these objects as they fly overhead could help them become more commercially meaningful.
Source: China Daily, South China Morning Post
