DARPA Breaks Wireless Power Record, Beams Energy Over 5 Miles to Make Popcorn

Quick Summary

• The U.S. military, led by DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), achieved a record wireless power transmission of over 800 watts via laser across a distance of 5.3 miles (8.6 kilometers).
• The experiment is part of the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, aiming to enable near-instant power beaming for applications like battlefield energy use and disaster relief.
• Previous records include transmitting 230 watts across one mile and an unspecified amount over 2.3 miles.
• Conducted at the White Sands Missile Range in New mexico,this latest test involved transmitting power with approximately 20% efficiency in a pulse lasting 30 seconds. Some energy was used creatively-in making popcorn during testing-but also explored practical usages like powering UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles).
• This technology could help instantly deliver power generated at accessible locations to areas where it’s urgently needed while reducing logistical challenges such as fuel transportation risks.
• Future tests will focus on vertical transmissions and relayed connections for increased efficiency.

Indian Opinion Analysis
DARPA’s advancements in wireless energy transmission highlight technological breakthroughs that resonate beyond their immediate military applications, especially as global interest grows around energy innovation and sustainability solutions like space-based solar arrays or renewable systems that cut dependency on finite resources like oil or coal.

For India, the implications are noteworthy given its intersectional priorities: improving battlefield logistics amid evolving defense strategies and advancing renewable technologies to address domestic energy demand sustainably-especially considering remote areas often face impediments regarding grid connectivity or fossil fuel transport bottlenecks. Further, india’s pursuits with solar-powered drones align conceptually with this emerging framework of laser-transmitted powering systems.

It is critical for indian defense research organizations and tech industries to monitor these innovations while exploring compatibility opportunities within indigenous programs focused on aerospace missions or disaster management infrastructure where real-time portable electricity can redefine strategic efficacy.

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