Ongoing drone operations
Drones usually fly for about an hour before needing a battery recharge, which interrupts their missions. Continuous optical communication with the drone operator is crucial in scenarios like searching for injured people in rugged terrain or monitoring unpredictable wildfires. Short flight durations restrict the effectiveness of drone use in some cases.
Charge on the Fly
Organizations such as emergency services, wildlife trackers, and border patrols need continuous drone operations. This case study focuses on developing inflight wireless charging to extend drone flight times beyond an hour, ideally doubling or tripling the current duration. The case study provides a proof of concept. Moving this solution toward commercial use involves, among other things, addressing remaining technical challenges and updating drone operation regulations and standards.