Revolutionary Breakthrough: Scientists Achieve 5-Mile Wireless Electricity Transmission with Lasers!

Lasers aren’t just for cutting metal or scanning products at stores. They can also transmit electricity wirelessly through the air. A recent experiment by a U.S. team successfully sent electrical power as laser light over a distance of 5.3 miles and converted it back into electricity at the receiving end.

During the tests, the team delivered 800 watts in 30 seconds, achieving around 20% efficiency at shorter distances. This breakthrough in wireless electricity has the potential to transform how we deliver power, particularly in tough environments like battlefields or disaster zones, where traditional fuel methods can be slow and risky.

This technology, known as optical power beaming, takes electricity and converts it into a focused laser beam. At the receiver, a specialized parabolic mirror collects the light and directs it onto photovoltaic cells, which then turn it back into electricity. This system is designed to minimize energy loss. Light that escapes is wasted, which is a concern for overall efficiency.

What sets this test apart is the challenging atmospheric conditions it faced. It wasn’t just a simple straight line; it crossed a dust-laden area near the ground, making it more complex than previous tests. Over the course of the trials, the team transferred more than one megajoule of energy—this really adds up, given the brief duration of each transmission.

This experiment took place at the U.S. Army’s White Sands Missile Range, known for its high-energy laser tests. A major part of this success is the Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD), which was developed rapidly. This modular receiver routes incoming beams to multiple solar cells, enabling each one to share the load. This scalability is crucial for future applications, like powering vehicles or mobile bases.

According to a program manager at DARPA, the achievement exceeds all previous optical power beaming demonstrations in both power and distance. Earlier public tests had been limited either by range or wattage, making this new milestone particularly noteworthy.

Drones could be one of the first practical applications. Imagine a drone charging mid-flight rather than landing to replace batteries. The larger vision includes creating a network of sky-based relays that can transmit energy through thinner, clearer atmospheres, making power delivery more efficient.

However, beaming power does have hurdles. Safety is paramount—techniques like shutters and sensors are in place to prevent accidents with people or aircraft. Factors like turbulence and air quality can also affect efficiency, but improvements in technology could help minimize these issues.

Engineers have long explored wireless optical power, starting with lab experiments. The current effort aims to establish a flexible energy web through airborne relays, similar to communication networks that rely on multiple hops rather than one fragile link.

While this wireless electricity won’t replace traditional grids, it can complement them. In emergencies, it could quickly power essential services, like water pumps or communication centers, while restoration efforts are underway. It could also reduce the need for fuel convoys in military contexts, enhancing safety for personnel.

But questions remain. Can this technology work in dense fog or dust? Well, those conditions can scatter the laser beam and reduce effectiveness, which is why higher-altitude paths may be favored. And what about satellite links? While it’s possible, it presents unique engineering challenges regarding aiming and safety.

Looking ahead, the goal is to prove that these energy relays can transfer beams without significant loss and to power moving targets, like drones. Keeping a laser beam focused on a small receiver in motion isn’t easy, so precise tracking will be critical.

This project merges physics, materials science, and control systems to meet real-world needs, bridging the gap between theoretical concepts and practical applications. As researchers continue to refine this technology, we may soon find ourselves with a reliable method of wireless electricity at our fingertips.

For more insights on this cutting-edge technology, see DARPA’s latest reports here and follow developments in related fields.

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