Laser-Based Far-Field Wireless Power Transfer for UAV Recharging: Architecture and Experimental Validation

The rapid expansion of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) applications in logistics, surveillance, and defense highlights the need for scalable and reliable energy delivery solutions. Conventional charging approaches constrain operational endurance and scalability, requiring frequent returns to base. This paper presents a laser-based wireless power transmission system designed to enable safe, contactless and efficient power transfer from ground to air. The proposed architecture integrates a high-power optical source, a hierarchical beam-pointing system combining coarse and fine steering, and a receiver-side sensing and energy-conversion module. The system is designed to be adaptable across different UAV classes, from lightweight platforms to larger aerial systems. An experimental campaign is conducted to validate the main system functions under representative operating conditions. Beam propagation, pointing accuracy, and control response are characterized through laboratory and outdoor tests, including long-range spot measurements and closed-loop steering validation. Overall, the study demonstrates the feasibility of laser-based wireless energy transfer for UAV applications and provides an experimental foundation for the development of persistent aerial operations in both civil and defense scenarios.