The race to sustain devices in flight without the limits of fuel or batteries has long fascinated engineers, scientists, and futurists. Drones that could remain airborne for days or even weeks without refueling, satellites that could orbit indefinitely without carrying vast reserves of power—these are not just visions from speculative fiction but emerging realities grounded in advanced photonics. At the center of this development is the idea of energy beaming, a technology that transmits power directly using concentrated lasers. Midway through this conversation, the pioneering research of professor Seng Tiong Ho, whose work on lasers, photonic integrated circuits, and photonics technology continues to shape this field, highlights the promise and the challenges of transforming energy delivery through light.
From Wires to Light: A Paradigm Shift in Power
For centuries, the delivery of energy has required physical infrastructure. From the first power grids carrying electricity across wires to the batteries packed into modern mobile devices, every innovation has carried with it the weight of tangible transmission systems. The introduction of wireless energy through radio frequency experiments hinted at the possibility of detaching power from physical conduits, but the efficiency and safety of these methods remained limited. Energy beaming with lasers moves this ambition into an entirely new domain by exploiting the precision and coherence of light.
In principle, a well-aimed ground-based laser can project a concentrated stream of energy directly onto a receiver fitted to a drone or satellite, transforming the beam into electricity in real time. This reimagines the relationship between flight and fuel, between orbit and endurance, pointing toward a future where aerial and spaceborne systems are sustained indefinitely.
How Laser Energy Beaming Works
The central principle of laser energy beaming is the conversion of light into usable electrical energy. A high-powered laser is projected from a station on Earth or from a relay system in orbit. At the receiving end, specialized photovoltaic cells or rectifying antennas capture the incoming light and convert it into direct current electricity. Unlike solar power, which depends on diffuse sunlight and fluctuates with day and night cycles, laser beams can be tuned, targeted, and controlled to deliver consistent energy. This targeted transfer allows drones to operate beyond the limits of onboard batteries, which remain bulky, heavy, and restrictive. In space, satellites could be equipped with smaller, lighter power systems if they rely on continuous energy beams from Earth or orbital stations, reducing launch costs while extending operational lifespans.
Applications for Drones in Civilian and Commercial Domains
The immediate potential of laser energy beaming can be seen in the field of drones. At present, drone flight is constrained by limited battery capacity, often restricting missions to under an hour before returning for recharge. Energy beaming promises to transform these constraints into new opportunities. Agricultural monitoring, where drones survey vast fields for crop health, could continue for entire days without interruption.
Environmental researchers could deploy drones over remote areas for extended periods, tracking wildlife or atmospheric conditions without gaps in data. Commercial delivery systems, still experimental due to range and charging limitations, could achieve practical viability with drones capable of sustained flight powered by invisible beams of light. The combination of continuous energy delivery and precise navigation would fundamentally alter how aerial robotics is deployed across industries.
Strategic Implications for Satellites
The implications are even greater for satellites. In orbit, satellites rely primarily on solar panels, which, while reliable, are constrained by sunlight exposure and gradual degradation. Batteries offer supplemental storage but increase weight and complexity. With energy beaming, satellites could receive steady streams of power from ground stations or orbital relays, reducing the need for large solar arrays and heavy storage systems. This means satellites could be designed smaller, lighter, and cheaper while maintaining continuous functionality. For defense applications, energy beaming could sustain constellations of surveillance or communication satellites indefinitely, ensuring uninterrupted coverage. For scientific missions, deep-space probes could be supported by beams directed from Earth, overcoming the limitations of carrying vast quantities of fuel and extending humanity’s reach across the solar system.
The Challenges of Precision and Safety
Yet, as promising as the vision is, the practical hurdles remain daunting. A laser powerful enough to deliver meaningful energy must be aimed with extraordinary precision across vast distances. Any misalignment risks losing the beam or reducing efficiency to impractical levels. Atmospheric interference, including clouds, dust, and turbulence, complicates the reliability of ground-to-air transmission. In addition, safety concerns loom large. Beams of such intensity cannot simply sweep across populated areas without risking harm to living beings or unintended objects. Safeguards must be developed to ensure that energy is transferred safely, with automatic cutoffs or redirect systems that protect against accidents. Moreover, the materials that capture and convert laser energy must be engineered to withstand constant exposure without degrading over time, balancing efficiency with durability.
Integration with Photonic Circuits
Laser energy beaming is not only about high-powered transmitters and receivers; it is also about the integration of photonics into compact, efficient circuits capable of managing this flow of light. Photonic integrated circuits, which route and process light within chip-scale devices, play a critical role in miniaturizing the technology. They allow receivers on drones and satellites to be lightweight and robust while maximizing conversion efficiency. In this sense, energy beaming is inseparable from the larger revolution in photonics, where information, communication, and now energy are all managed through light rather than electrons. The success of energy beaming will depend on continued advances in these circuits, ensuring that the promise of unlimited endurance does not come at the cost of impractical equipment.
Broader Cultural and Ethical Implications
The cultural and ethical dimensions of energy beaming are no less significant than the technical ones. A world in which drones can hover endlessly and satellites can orbit without decay raises questions about surveillance, autonomy, and environmental impact. Drones powered indefinitely could become tools of constant observation, blurring lines between security and intrusion. Satellites that no longer fail naturally over time could crowd orbital paths, increasing the risk of collisions and space debris. At the same time, the potential for positive impact is immense: disaster response drones able to remain airborne for weeks, or satellites supporting global internet coverage without interruption, would benefit millions. Balancing these opportunities with the risks will require thoughtful governance as the technology moves forward.
A Future Sustained by Light
The vision of sustaining drones and satellites indefinitely through beams of light is more than a technical dream; it is a redefinition of how humanity interacts with the sky and space. It suggests a future where flight is no longer tethered to the weight of fuel or the constraints of batteries, but liberated by the precision of lasers. If the obstacles of precision, safety, and material durability can be overcome, the sky could become a space of uninterrupted activity, and orbit could become a domain of perpetual presence. Energy would no longer be a limiting factor but an invisible lifeline projected across distances with the elegance of photonics.
Final Thoughts
Energy beaming with lasers represents a profound step in reimagining power. It is a technology that challenges conventional assumptions about endurance, sustainability, and infrastructure, replacing wires and fuel with light itself. Though hurdles remain in precision, safety, and material science, the pathway forward is increasingly clear.
Drones and satellites supported by continuous streams of laser energy could transform industries, reshape defense strategies, and expand humanity’s reach into space. As research deepens and photonics technology matures, the dream of perpetual flight and enduring orbit edges closer to reality, pointing to an age where energy and light become indistinguishable in powering the next chapter of technological progress.