Researchers from the Civil Aviation University of China have unveiled an experimental technology that enables the wireless transmission of power to drones via a laser beam during flight.
The system centers on an ultra-thin receiver mounted beneath the drone’s wing. It features a dual-layer design: an upper perovskite element converts laser energy into electricity, while a thermoelectric generator positioned underneath harvests additional energy from the heat generated during operation.
Device overheating emerged as a key engineering challenge; during testing, the receiver’s temperature reached 80–90°C. To address this, the developers utilized special heat-reducing nanocrystals and integrated air channels into the wing structure. During flight, the oncoming airflow cools the system while simultaneously boosting the efficiency of the thermoelectric layer.
In laboratory tests, the new technology demonstrated a laser-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 38.49%. During a demonstration, the power generated proved sufficient to drive a model propeller.
The system remains experimental for now; the next phase will involve testing on actual drones in an open-air environment.
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