Laser-powered glider tested in Japan

Forget about using lasers just for guidance. Developers at Japan's Kinki University have demonstrated the ability to use lasers as a source of power for a small airplane. The 30-inch glider, which had a 20-minute test flight around the Osaka Dome, used a battery to assist with take-off, and then switched to laser power, with a ground-based laser firing at the glider's photoelectric cells to keep it aloft. The developers envision using laser-powered gliders for automated applications, such as surveying areas hit by natural disasters. We just want them to come out with a version for us to fly in our backyard.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:27PM]

As long as sharks don't get a hold of this thing it should be pretty cool. I mean imagine the horror. Sharks with frickin laser beams attached to gliders...

[CobraKahn Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:31PM]

If it is powered, then it is not a glider, is it?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:45PM]

I'd hate to see a bird fly between the laser and the plane. At least the laser operator would have something to eat while he's constantly following the plan.

[daaper Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:46PM]

Could it be that the power was only used to aid steering controls? then it could still qualify as a glider

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:46PM]

You would think by now that every time there was a natural disaster thousands of small robots from universities around the world would swarm in (and ultimately not actually help of course).

Can't they just say "we are making a robot because robots are great"?

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:51PM]

If they turned those cells over they could power it with the sun and be done with the whole lasooor thing.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 3:52PM]

lol...Kinki University

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 4:01PM]

I remember seeing something like this, but with microwaves. It was on a cover of a Popular Science magazine published sometime in the 80's.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 4:40PM]

I, too, am trying to figure out where the "powered" part of it comes into play. It is, after all, a glider. I suppose the ailerons and such, but that doesn't seem like such a big thing to need to accomplish... Huh.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 4:48PM]

"If they turned those cells over they could power it with the sun and be done with the whole lasooor thing."

Yeah, because there's a lot of sunlight inside a structure called the OSAKA DOME.

At any rate, the solar array would have to be much bigger. The advantage of laser power would be to increase the energy per unit area incident on the pv cells.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 5:36PM]

dont give them credit for stuff we did a long long time ago...

http://www.dfrc.nasa.gov/Gallery/Photo/Power-Beaming/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/news/Features/2004/nextfest.html

witnessed it myself

[CobraKahn Posted Mar 8th 2006 6:29PM]

A miniature glider toting a bunch of solar cells and a guidance system does not fly for 20 mintues without propulsion.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 8th 2006 7:16PM]

I thought I had seen this technology quite some time ago..

[John Stracke Posted Mar 8th 2006 8:45PM]

"The developers envision using laser-powered gliders for automated applications, such as surveying areas hit by natural disasters."

...because, of course, every place that's been hit by a natural disaster has plenty of lasers lying around to power your gliders.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 2nd 2008 9:54AM]

Of course there are powered gliders. Power is used for self-launch and gives altitude and time to find thermals/lift to soar. Just prey the laser operator has a good aim....