sUAS Laser Power Conversion System for Enhanced Range and Endurance

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) proposes to develop a laser power conversion (LPC) system to enable extended endurance and range of the DoDÆs cleared (ōblueö) Group 1 small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS). The LPC system will consist of a photovoltaic-based receiver payload integrated with the sUAS power electronics. The payload will capture a laser beam projected from a ground station that autonomously tracks and steers the beam to the payload. PSI will partner with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to transfer, fabricate, and adapt their cutting edge multi-junction photovoltaic research to the sUAS application. These photovoltaic devices will be characterized for efficiency, and thermal and electrical management requirements via modeling and benchtop experiments. PSI will design, develop, and test a benchtop beam launch apparatus that collimates/focuses a laser (>300W) to a beam profile and spot size compatible with the sUAS-mounted receiver array at distance greater than 500m from source to target. A complete beam steering and tracking system will be defined. Phase I will demonstrate key feasibility criteria and define overall system requirements via directed modeling and empirical testing initiatives. The data will guide the Phase II complete system design, yielding a full concept of operations demonstration.