A drone that flies forever

Drones naturally need to land after some time to refuel. A remote charging system could put an end to this time-consuming act, but how do you charge a flying device in the air, possibly while it is moving ? Researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xianyang, China, have found an answer to this question, and the short version is: with laser light. This was reported by the South China Morning Post.

The researchers at Northwestern Polytechnical University in Xianyang, China, have developed a technology that makes this possible. They use laser light to charge the drone in the air, which can help extend flight time or even make it unlimited. Most drones on the market run out of battery after about an hour.

In their experiments, the researchers say they have developed an algorithm that allows a laser beam to accurately track a drone's position in the air at all times. In addition, they equipped their drone with a photoelectric conversion module capable of converting light energy from a high-energy laser into electrical energy.

Possible applications for the drone

The research team has tested the system indoors, in daylight and in different lighting conditions, and it has worked successfully in all environments. The ability to "remotely" charge drones from the ground using lasers could lead to a variety of interesting applications if the research leads to commercial development. The continuous power supply could save drones valuable time during time-consuming missions. In disaster relief, for example, this could save valuable rescue time.

But such drones, which can be recharged by laser, would also be very useful in the future in other areas such as traffic monitoring or in the security industry during regular patrolling. The researchers also report very futuristic use cases: "In the future, large drones can be turned into aerial buses to build a three-dimensional transportation network. We can even use this technology to create satellites with near-Earth orbits or artificial moons."

Critics fault high energy consumption

But there are also concerns about feasibility. Critics complain that the research team has not yet published accurate data on the efficiency of photoelectric conversion aboard the drones. Keeping a drone in the air at all times with a high-energy laser could prove very costly. The research team argues that some data must remain secret because the drones could also be used by the military. There is also criticism of the protection algorithm, which adjusts the intensity of the laser when an obstacle is detected. Without more data, some experts are not convinced of its realistic feasibility.

Drones in high demand in China

The Chinese scientists who have developed a drone that can be charged from the ground using lasers have caused quite a stir. China has been gradually opening up its ground-based airspace to UAVs for several years. The use of drones in logistics and many other fields is growing rapidly in China. Although it still needs a lot of development work and, as always, there are some critics who question the drone's capabilities, it remains to be seen to what extent this new technology will prove itself in practice.

Sources: New Atlas and South China Morning Post