Oct 25 2010
LaserMotive will try to better its own world record for the longest-duration of laser-powered helicopter flight. The R&D company will fly the helicopter at the Future of Flight Aviation Center, in Washington, on 27 October 2010.
The flight comprises an unmanned quadrocopter that will be powered using a laser power beaming to provide continuous power to the helicopter. Laser power beaming is the wireless transmission of energy across distances with by using a laser light. LaserMotive previously created the world record for the longest-duration of a laser-powered helicopter on flight. The aircraft flew for six hours at one time for four days at the Colorado AUVSI Conference.
The LaserMotive is on the based on the company’s technology that won the 2009 Power Beaming Competition award. The award was sponsored by NASA. The flight demonstration comes under the company’s long-term plan to develop a comprehensive laser power system for using in unmanned aerial vehicles.
LaserMotive’s Co-founder and President, Tom Nugent stated that the demonstration of the flight would represent the first public show of a free-flying UAV powered by lasers. He added that this step would mark a significant advancement in developing the flight in the future.