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Comment by toomuchtodo | Hacker News Reader

Wireless power transmission via laser:

> Stalker is a small, silent UAS used by Special Operations Forces since 2006 to perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. In a recent wind tunnel test, the UAS demonstrated 48 hours of continuous flight powered by this innovative laser system.

> Demonstrated net positive power to Stalker in flight, at ranges up to 600 meters.

> The beam director tracked the receiver for long periods, with centimeter accuracy at 500 meters, despite turbulence and aircraft maneuvers.

http://lasermotive.com/products/uav-power-links/

Note they first successfully demonstrated this outdoors 3 years ago: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/press-releases/2012/au...

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This is genuinely awesome and I'm excited to see it's applications in future products.

HOWEVER: I don't think it's ready for 'consumer grade' things just yet. It's one thing to have it in a controlled wind-tunnel for 48 hours, it's completely different than having it outside and in variable wind, dirt, dust, other objects, etc.

Honestly, I can't imagine my luddite brother or father wrapping their minds around this just yet: "So, I point the laser at this? Why can't I just use a flashlight? Can I use the laser to charge my phone?"

How stealthy is this thing if it has a giant laser pointed at it the whole time?

Beam coherence and illumination aren't issues at the distance and power levels used.

We have this thing called infrared. The military is quite fond of it already for targeting lasers.

Huh.

That's actually really interesting.

I have this vision of a large mother UAV with long loiter times that can laser target micro UAVs at much lower altitudes.

Definitely feasible if your mothership is a dirigible using gas turbines to power itself, using laser spotbeams to target drones below for providing remote power.

Yes, another approach is to not have to carry all of the energy with you. Solar charging is another possibility.

I don't know that the energy density of solar cells work for their weight. Electric motors require a pretty high current. Even if you are supplementing another power source, I think you'll still be losing more than you are gaining for that application. You are probably fine with fixed wing, but multicopter designs will draw significantly more power.

I'd assume he's referring to having solar charging stations at the way-points.

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