Drones could undertake drastically longer flights using a lightweight solar receiver that generates electricity by harnessing targeted laser energy from the ground.
A team from the Civil Aviation University of China placed the device on the underside of the wings of a drone. Using heat-blocking technology, the receiver converted more of the laser’s energy into usable power.
“Imagine a future where drones inspecting forests, monitoring disasters, or delivering packages no longer need to land frequently to replace batteries,” said senior author Jianhua Han. “As drones take on longer missions, battery life has become one of the biggest barriers.”
The technology relies on a perovskite laser cell-thermoelectric (PLC-TE) tandem device, a type of solar cell that is optimised for lasers rather than sunlight. The perovskite layer converts laser energy into electricity, while the thermoelectric layer captures energy that would otherwise be lost as heat. The greater the temperature difference between...