PowerLight Technologies Unveils Laser Power Beaming System to Enable 'Infinite Flight' for DOD Unmanned Aerial Systems
PowerLight Technologies, a leader in safe wireless power transfer, today announced the successful development and subsystem testing of its end-to-end laser power beaming system for Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). Developed as part of the Power TRansmitted Over Laser to UAS (PTROL-UAS) program—a strategic initiative sponsored in part by United States Central Command (CENTCOM) —this system combines a new autonomous high-power transmitter with a lightweight, onboard receiver to charge UAS in flight.
This announcement marks a pivotal point in the program, transitioning from component development to integrated system testing. Pairing a transmitter capable of precision tracking with an airframe-mounted receiver, PowerLight is creating a “wireless power line" through the air, delivering kilowatt-class power over kilometers.