Laser Power Beam Powers Quadrocopter UAS for 12+ Hours

The LaserMotive system transmits laser light from a ground station to a photovoltaic receiver on a UAV. Reflected light from the UAV is then captured and used to monitor its position and dynamically control the laser to deliver the power to the correct position

Recently, at the Future of Flight Aviation Center (Mukilteo, WA, USA), LaserMotive (Seattle, WA, USA) demonstrated how a laser-powered beaming system could be used to power a vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) quadrocopter for more than 12 hours.

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Battlespace Flight Services Gets $104M MQ-1 Predator Maintenance Contract

Battlespace Flight Services, LLC of Arlington, Va., is being awarded a $104,179,468 firm fixed price/cost plus award fee contract modification to fund extension of contract for organizational maintenance support for the predator MQ-1 aircraft and related systems at Creech Air Force base, Nev., Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and deployed sites worldwide. Continue reading