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18:54 GMT, 17 July 2012 | The Daily Mail
A silent spy drone has been kept in the air for 48 hours using a radical new laser power system.
Military scientists from Lockheed Martin were able to wirelessly beam power to the drone to increase its
flight time by 2,400 per cent.
They say the system could eventually keep military spy drones in the sky forever.
The Stalker Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flight time to more than 48 hours. This increase in flight
duration represents an improvement of 2,400 percent.
The Stalker UAS was modified for the indoor flight test to incorporate the power beaming technology
from LaserMotive.
It makes it possible to wirelessly transfer energy over long distances using laser light.
At the conclusion of the flight test, held in a wind tunnel, the battery on the Stalker UAS had more
energy stored than it did at the beginning of the test.
The test was concluded only because the flight had already surpassed the initial endurance goals set by
the team.
'This test is one of the final steps in bringing laser-powered flight to the field,' said Tom Nugent,
president of LaserMotive.
'By enabling in-flight recharging, this system will ultimately extend capabilities, improve endurance and
enable new missions for electric aircraft.
'The next step in proving the reality of this technology is to demonstrate it outdoors in an extended
flight of the Stalker.'
18:54 GMT, 17 July 2012 | The Daily Mail
A silent spy drone has been kept in the air for 48 hours using a radical new laser power system.
Military scientists from Lockheed Martin were able to wirelessly beam power to the drone to increase its
flight time by 2,400 per cent.
They say the system could eventually keep military spy drones in the sky forever.
The Stalker Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) flight time to more than 48 hours. This increase in flight
duration represents an improvement of 2,400 percent.
The Stalker UAS was modified for the indoor flight test to incorporate the power beaming technology
from LaserMotive.
It makes it possible to wirelessly transfer energy over long distances using laser light.
At the conclusion of the flight test, held in a wind tunnel, the battery on the Stalker UAS had more
energy stored than it did at the beginning of the test.
The test was concluded only because the flight had already surpassed the initial endurance goals set by
the team.
'This test is one of the final steps in bringing laser-powered flight to the field,' said Tom Nugent,
president of LaserMotive.
'By enabling in-flight recharging, this system will ultimately extend capabilities, improve endurance and
enable new missions for electric aircraft.
'The next step in proving the reality of this technology is to demonstrate it outdoors in an extended
flight of the Stalker.'
