Laser Power Beaming to Sustain Small UAVs using ~1070 nm Source and Receiver

Electrification of aviation is the key to enabling clean, sustainable, and rapid transportation around the world.Ā Beaming power to aircraft can extend the range of a flight indefinitely with the right amount of power transfer.Ā This can be accomplished using a ground source laser system or by using space-based power transfer.Ā In the latter case, one large laser power source in GEO could power multiple aircraft 24 hours per day. ĀMicroLink proposes to research and develop an innovative ~1070 nm power beaming source (PBS) and receiver (PBR) system mounted onto a small Unmanned Aircraft System (sUAS) with PBR of 200W net power transfer. ĀMicroLink proposes to deliver a prototype power beaming (PB) system in a relevant outdoor environment using a commercially available, high efficiency 1065 nm fiber laser, with a tuned ~1070 nm PBR array attached to a ōblueö sUAS. ĀCommercially available ~1070 nm cells are much less than 40% efficient, which means that more than 60% of the laser power is wasted and must be thermally rejected from the sUAS.Ā To improve system performance, the PBR cell, which is mainly limited by thermal and resistive losses, must be kept cool and made more efficient.Ā In Phase I, MicroLink will demonstrate a dual junction ~1070 nm device that can more efficiently convert photons to electric power and approach ~50% efficiency in a small, lightweight, and compact PBR array.Ā MicroLink will also identify an efficient 1065 nm laser source for Phase II demonstration using a sUAS that meets the PB system requirement of delivering 200W net power.Ā It should be noted that all ōblueö sUAS are some form of a multi-copter that should be able to accommodate the PBR array.Ā In related work, PBR cells developed in a NASA Phase I show state-of-the-art PV characteristics for their ~1070 nm absorption and efficiency ~40%.Ā MicroLink is uniquely positioned with experience in fabricating thin lightweight arrays, making our design fit well with the intended sUAS technology.Ā The PB system will ideally make use of a powerful and efficient 1065 nm laser (PBS) and multiple PBR arrays, so that multiple sUAS can be sequentially charged and kept in operation indefinitely.Ā Therefore, the PBR array is a critical component in the PB system and requires focused development to ensure maximum efficiency and performance.