Engineers have taken a major step toward keeping drones airborne indefinitely by charging them mid-flight using laser beams fired from the ground. According to a report by Live Science, the breakthrough comes from PowerLight Technologies, which has developed a laser-based wireless power system capable of delivering kilowatts of energy to unmanned aerial systems while they are in motion.
The system pairs a ground-based laser transmitter with a lightweight receiver mounted on the drone. Advanced tracking software allows the transmitter to lock onto cooperative aerial targets, follow their velocity and flight path, and continuously deliver energy with high precision. Unlike typical laboratory lasers that operate at milliwatt levels, PowerLight’s hardware can sustain power transfer at the kilowatt scale, enough to meaningfully recharge a drone’s batteries during flight.
Company representatives say the transmitter can operate at altitudes of up to 5,000 feet, covering the typical flight envelope of many military and commercial drones. Integrated control software links directly with the drone’s onboard avionics, enabling real-time telemetry sharing. This allows operators to monitor battery charge, adjust power delivery dynamically, and ensure the laser remains accurately focused on the receiver at all times.
At the heart of the airborne system is a six-pound receiver built into the drone. It captures the incoming laser energy and converts it into electrical power using a laser-optimized photovoltaic converter. Unlike solar cells, which rely on broad-spectrum sunlight, these converters are tuned specifically for high-intensity, monochromatic laser light, making them far more efficient in this application.
Courtesy: PowerLight Technologies
The receiver also supports two-way optical communication, allowing data and control signals to travel between the drone and the ground station using light rather than radio waves. PowerLight describes the concept as an “intelligent mesh energy network,” where power delivery and flight control are tightly coordinated.
The technology was developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense and is slated for integration into the K1000ULE, a fully electric, long-endurance drone built by Kraus Hamdani Aerospace for persistent missions supporting the U.S. Navy and Army. While wireless laser power transfer has been demonstrated before – including a Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency test that delivered more than 800 watts over 5.3 miles – PowerLight’s system is designed specifically for mobile, real-world platforms.
So far, testing has validated the tracking algorithms and power transmission hardware on the ground. Full flight tests are expected to begin later this year. If successful, the technology could fundamentally change how drones are used, enabling persistent surveillance, communications, and logistics missions without the need to land for refueling or battery swaps.