High-Powered Lasers Can Wirelessly Charge Drones Mid-Flight
The prototype converted 38.49% of laser light into electricity and could help drones stay airborne longer for inspections and deliveries, researchers said.
- Researchers at the Civil Aviation University of China and Tsinghua University revealed a new system enabling drones to charge mid-flight using high-powered lasers, with a prototype successfully converting laser energy into electricity to power aircraft propellers.
- The receiver, a perovskite laser cell-thermoelectric tandem device, converts 38.49% of laser light into electricity, far exceeding the 34% peak results for perovskite-silicon tandem cells recorded by the U.S. Department of Energy .
- Initial tests revealed extreme heat buildup, reaching 80 to 90 degrees Celsius , prompting researcher Jianhua Han to introduce antimony triselenide nanocrystals to regulate temperatures. "That was much higher than we expected," Han said.
- While the prototype successfully powered a drone model, researchers must develop precise real-time tracking systems to target in-flight aircraft before deployment. The team plans outdoor tests on a real lightweight drone to overcome battery life barriers.
- Military interest remains high; DARPA successfully beamed 800 watts over 5.3 miles in June 2025, as this technology could revolutionize reconnaissance by extending the 60 to 90-minute flight limits of drones like the AeroVironment RQ-11 Raven.
13 Articles
13 Articles
UAVs can stay in the air significantly longer. Chinese scientists have developed a technology that allows drones to be charged while in flight using a laser from the ground. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a study published in ScienceDirect. How was the problem solved? The scientists explained that critical overheating of the equipment has always been the main obstacle to transmitting high-power wireless energy. Powerful lasers instantl…
We are now in an era where anything that uses electricity—from smartphones and smartwatches to electric vehicles—is wirelessly charged. Now, wireless charging has expanded its stage to the skies. This method involves shining lasers beneath drone wings to recharge them even during flight. Professor Jianhua Han of the School of Aerospace Engineering at the Civil Aviation University of China and Professor Hong Lin of the School of Materials Science…
The beam of light acts as an invisible cable, but not just recharge the battery: there is more.
High-powered lasers can wirelessly charge drones mid-flight
Chinese researchers have revealed a new technology that could soon enable drones to charge mid-flight using high-powered lasers. The scientists built a prototype of the system using a model of a drone and attached a receiver that works similarly to a solar cell. Fixed to the underside of the wing, the receiver successfully converted the energy from the laser beam into electricity to power the aircraft’s propellers.The breakthrough was made by re…
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