DARPA's Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program has achieved a significant breakthrough in wireless power transmission, successfully beaming 800 watts over 5.3 miles (8.6 km) for 30 seconds. This surpasses earlier tests that transmitted 230 watts over 1 mile (1.7 km). POWER utilizes a Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD) to convert laser light into electricity, with plans to enhance efficiency and deploy airborne relays for future applications. According to program manager Paul Jaffe, this advancement challenges previous limitations in power beaming technology.
DARPA's Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program has achieved a significant breakthrough in wireless power transmission, successfully beaming 800 watts over 5.3 miles (8.6 km) for 30 seconds. This surpasses earlier tests that transmitted 230 watts over 1 mile (1.7 km). POWER utilizes a Power Receiver Array Demo (PRAD) to convert laser light into electricity, with plans to enhance efficiency and deploy airborne relays for future applications. According to program manager Paul Jaffe, this advancement challenges previous limitations in power beaming technology.