Introduction: A new era of wireless power
Wireless power transmission has moved beyond charging pads and short-range links. In aerospace, defense, and space exploration, laser-based systems promise to deliver energy over long distances with precision. As researchers refine efficiency and safety, laser power transmission is emerging as a feasible way to power autonomous drones, lunar rovers, and other high-demand platforms without frequent landings or recharge stops.
The two main approaches to long-distance power transfer
There are two leading technologies in long-range wireless power delivery: laser power transmission (LPT) and microwave-based methods. Both aim to convert electrical energy into a focused beam, transmit it to a receiver, and reconvert it to usable electrical power or usable energy (e.g., battery charging, propulsion). While microwave links have a long history in space power concepts, laser-based approaches offer high directivity and potentially higher efficiencies at shorter distances, with different trade-offs for safety, weather tolerance, and targeting precision.
Laser power transmission (LPT) uses a collimated laser beam directed at a photovoltaic receiver that converts light back into electricity. The advantages include tight beam control, small receiver packaging, and the potential for high power densities. Challenges involve atmospheric attenuation (for Earth-based links), thermal management at the receiver, and safety protocols to prevent unintended exposure to people or wildlife.
Microwave power transmission relies on microwave or millimeter-wave beams that can penetrate some weather conditions more readily and are easier to align over long ranges. The receivers are usually rectennas, converting microwave energy into DC power. This approach generally faces lower atmospheric losses but requires larger receiver areas and careful management of interference and regulatory constraints.
Why this matters for drones and lunar rovers
For drones, a laser-powered link could enable sustained flight times beyond the capacity of batteries alone, enabling longer surveillance, delivery, or search-and-rescue missions without frequent landings. In space exploration, laser power systems could keep lunar rovers supplied as they traverse sunless regions or support base operations by feeding energy to stationary or mobile assets from a central ground or satellite transmitter.
Crucially, the ability to remotely recharge or power critical systems reduces the need for heavy on-board power storage, allowing smaller, more efficient platforms. In addition, remote power beaming can support emergency response in hazardous environments where human access is impractical or dangerous.
<h2Key challenges and solutions
Two of the central hurdles are safety and efficiency. High-power beams must be tightly controlled to avoid exposure to people, animals, or unintended objects. Modern systems address this with eye-safe wavelengths, autonomous beam shutdowns, and geofencing to prevent operation outside designated zones. Atmospheric conditions—like rain, fog, or dust—can attenuate laser beams, but adaptive optics and wavelength optimization are helping to maintain performance in varied weather.
Efficiency at the receiver is another focus area. Recent advances include multi-junction photovoltaic receivers and thermal management schemes that convert more of the input energy into usable electrical power with less heat generation. As these technologies mature, the practicality of on-demand recharging in remote locations becomes more compelling.
Applications on the horizon
In the near term, testbeds are evaluating laser and microwave power links for unmanned aerial systems (UAS), autonomous inspection fleets, and disaster response drones operating over challenging terrain. In the longer term, laser power could support lunar or planetary rovers and habitats where local power generation is limited, enabling longer missions with fewer logistical constraints.
Safety, regulation, and the path forward
Safety frameworks, regulatory approvals, and standardization will shape how quickly laser and microwave power transmission scales. Ongoing research emphasizes fail-safes, restricted zones, and robust verification protocols to prevent accidental exposure. Collaboration among researchers, industry stakeholders, and policymakers will be essential to unlock practical, safe deployment across civilian and scientific applications.
As the technology refines, laser power transmission could redefine how we think about energy for mobile and remote platforms. From delivering energy to aerial drones over long distances to powering rovers that explore distant worlds, the future of wireless power is bright—and incredibly focused.
