PowerLight Technologies Unveils Laser System That Can Wirelessly Charge Drones Nearly 2km Away
U.S. company PowerLight Technologies has revealed a breakthrough wireless power system that uses a kilowatt-class laser to charge drones in mid-air from nearly 2km (1.24 miles) away. The technology, developed with United States Central Command, promises to create “an intelligent mesh energy network” for unmanned aircraft, enabling potentially infinite flight endurance without landing.
The age of drones needing to frequently land and recharge may be coming to an abrupt end. A novel laser-based system has been unveiled that can beam power directly to aircraft in flight, turning the sky into a wireless charging grid. PowerLight Technologies, a U.S. firm, has developed a groundbreaking system capable of transmitting kilowatt-class power over distances approaching two kilometers, fundamentally reshaping the possibilities for drone persistence and mission capability.
The technology was developed under the Power TRansmitted Over Laser to UAS (PTROL) program, supported in part by United States Central Command. It has now progressed from component testing to integrated system validation. At its core is an autonomous ground-based transmitter that can track a moving drone and direct an invisible, high-power laser beam with extreme precision to deliver energy in flight.
“This is much more than point-to-point power transfer using a laser; we are building an intelligent mesh energy network capability,” said Tom Nugent, CTO and co-founder of PowerLight Technologies. He explained the sophistication of the system to New Atlas: “Our transmitter communicates with the UAS, tracks its velocity and vector, and delivers energy exactly where it’s needed. We have now successfully tested the power transmission and tracking algorithms, validating the core architecture.”
On the drone’s side, the system uses a remarkably lightweight onboard receiver, weighing only about six pounds. This device captures the non-visible laser energy and converts it directly into electricity to recharge the aircraft’s batteries while it operates. The receiver also manages a bi-directional optical data link with the ground station for communication and telemetry. The ground transmitter itself combines advanced beam-control software with hardware engineered to sustain the high-power laser output safely in mixed civilian and military airspace.
Testing has already verified key capabilities: precision optical tracking, long-range power delivery to altitudes of up to 5,000 feet, and a multi-layered safety system. The strategic implications are vast. For military, surveillance, or emergency response drones, the ability to stay aloft for days, weeks, or even months without landing is a game-changer.
“The new era of Infinite Flight begins,” the company proclaimed. To bring this era to life, PowerLight is partnering with Kraus Hamdani Aerospace to integrate the technology into their K1000ULE long-endurance drone. “Integrating PowerLight’s laser power beaming adds a new level of persistence, reshaping the operational reality of theater-wide missions. A platform that doesn’t need to land to refuel or recharge is one that never blinks,” said Fatema Hamdani, CEO and co-founder of Kraus Hamdani Aerospace.
Fully integrated flight demonstrations are planned for early this year, aimed at proving sustained in-flight charging. If successful, this technology could extend far beyond drones, potentially creating persistent aerial platforms for communications, sensing, and more. For PowerLight Technologies and its partners, the future isn’t just about flying drones—it’s about keeping them in the air, indefinitely.