Soon, "drones" will be able to charge directly in the sky

The company DAPRA conducted a test of technology that allows you to charge unmanned aerial vehicles by means of a laser directly in the air. For the experiment was selected model Silent Falcon.

The design of the aircraft involves the presence of built-in solar panels located on the wings, and batteries in the fuselage. The battery serves as the main source of energy, but in the case when the charge ends, the laser beam is directed to the panel and energy begins to flow again. Thanks to the possibility of charging in the air, the need to return the drone to the base disappears. This saves time by increasing the efficiency of the tasks performed.

Such a scenario is perfect. In practice, specialists had to face many difficulties. Thus, the laser efficiency decreases in direct proportion to the distance to the controlled object. The maximum range of the charge laser at the moment is 11 km.In this case, a serious obstacle can serve as interference in the form of precipitation, as well as fog and excessive smoke.

In addition, while it is not fully understood whether the laser charge will cause damage to objects that fall into its impact zone, it will not cause a forest fire, and how the UAV control system will be able to notify about possible risks.

If these and many other difficulties can be resolved, a new era of “endless” aircraft will be able to stay in the air for more than one week. This greatly optimizes the work of both industrial and military facilities around the world.