A new technology shoots laser beams at drones to charge them in midair, thus unlocking the possibility of "infinite flight."
Representatives from PowerLight Technologies say the system works by pairing a ground-based transmitter with a receiver on the drone, also known as an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The transmitter combines advanced software designed to provide precise control of the laser beam with hardware that can sustain power transmission on a scale of kilowatts — or thousands of watts — according to the company. For comparison, typical lab lasers operate on a scale of milliwatts, or thousandths of watts.
