E. Vela
BeamFeed LLC, New York, United States
Keywords: laser power beaming, wireless power transfer, photovoltaics, coherent perfect absorption, power conversion
BeamFeed’s optical wireless power transfer (WPT) system addresses recharging interruptions that limit operational efficiency and drone-mission duration by enabling continuous in-flight energy transfer. Their most recent innovation is the production of a highly-efficient power converter to aid in the adoption of power beaming as an energy solution for battery-operated aircrafts. This thin film photovoltaic-based receiver is based on novel photon management schemes for increased power conversion efficiency across a broad range of incident angles, thus minimizing additional payload weight while requiring less stringent transmitter-receiver line of sight. Specifically designed for battery-powered aerial systems, BeamFeed’s laser-based technology overcomes the limitations of existing power solutions by extending flight time, reducing downtime, and increasing operational efficiency by over 40%, thus meeting the needs of end users and operators. This opens opportunities in infrastructure inspection and military intelligence where endurance is critical, while also lowering operational costs by easing reliance on heavy batteries and frequent recharging.