The laser tech that could power drones, lunar rovers and more

We’ve become familiar with wireless power transmission for our personal devices, such as smartphones or watches. But long-distance wireless power transmission is also increasingly becoming a reality.

There are two main technologies in this space. The practical use of microwave wireless power transmission is expanding, but it faces challenges with efficiency and the accuracy of the beam. Another promising technology, optical wireless power transmission, has not yet been used in practice. Over long distances — especially through the atmosphere — the intensity distribution of the laser beam becomes uneven, reducing efficiency when the beam is converted to electric power.

But this technology has reached a new milestone in a test by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and NTT that uses technology to shape the beam and reduce atmospheric turbulence. This keeps the beam uniform. The companies succeeded in transmitting 1 kW of power and receiving 152 W, resulting in 15% efficiency.

The achievement — the world’s highest efficiency for this technology — marks a step toward realizing a stable power supply in regions where laying cables has been difficult, including remote islands, disaster-stricken zones, and offshore areas.

It is also expected to deliver wireless power to drones in flight, lunar rovers and even space data centers.

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