DARPA Achieves New Milestones in Wireless Power Transmission

Envisioning a future where laser beams take the place of traditional power lines, DARPA’s Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program has achieved groundbreaking records in transmitting higher amounts of power over greater distances without wires.

Rising Energy Demands in Military and Humanitarian Operations

Reliable power is vital for military and humanitarian missions, prompting major forces to invest heavily in energy resources, which adds to supply chain complexity.

Yet, regardless of how advanced power technology becomes, the persistent challenge remains: delivering that energy from Point A to Point B. This issue becomes especially daunting in the so-called “last mile,” where it’s impossible to string power lines or bury pipelines. In such situations, soldiers frequently have no choice but to manually carry jerry cans of fuel across difficult terrain, relying solely on physical effort.

Laser-Based Energy Transmission

To bridge this gap, DARPA’s POWER program aims to create “light-based transmission lines,” using laser beams to deliver energy as effortlessly as we currently transmit data wirelessly.

This ambitious initiative is showing significant progress, with recent tests in New Mexico setting new performance records. Earlier tests sent 230 watts over 1 mile and a smaller amount up to 2.3 miles. DARPA has now reached 800 watts over 5.3 miles for 30 seconds.

An impressive leap forward in wireless, near-instantaneous power delivery.

The Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD) is a spherical device that channels laser beams to photovoltaic cells, converting light into electricity.

DARPA is prioritizing power and range, making the system’s 20% efficiency acceptable for now. Improvements are planned as the technology matures and scales up.

Airborne Relays for High-Altitude Power Transmission

In the recent test, both the laser emitter and receiver were ground-based. However, the long-term vision involves turning these components into airborne relays mounted on high-altitude drones. Raising the system above dense air reduces power loss and avoids obstacles like buildings, aircraft, and wildlife.

In Phase One of a three-stage plan, the program is improving beam control, wavefront correction, and energy efficiency. By the final phase, it aims to equip aircraft with relays transmitting 10 kW over 125 miles (200 km).

“This demo shattered myths about power beaming and is inspiring industry to rethink what’s possible,” said Program Manager Paul Jaffe.

Read the original article on: New Atlas

Read more:Photonic Processor may Streamline 6G Signal Processing