The new project drone flies on the energy of microwaves

Currently, most rockets fly using solid or liquid fuel, which can

make up up to 90% of weight. However, the authors of a new study have shown an alternative source of energy - microwaves. 

Microwaves are a type of electromagnetic radiation. They contain energy that can be converted into electricity, just like sunlight is converted into energy.

In a new study, the authors generated electricity to power drones by directing microwaves at them.

In experiments with unmanned aerial vehiclesThe devices transmit microwave power from an antenna on the ground to an antenna on an unmanned aerial vehicle. A rectifier is used to convert radio frequency to DC current, and DC power is used to drive the drone's motors.

Kohei Shimamura from the University of Tsukuba.

Previous studies have usedlow-frequency waves, but it turned out that with increasing frequency, the efficiency of energy transfer increases. Therefore, the research team used high frequencies of 28 gigahertz to lift the 0.4 kilogram unmanned aerial vehicle.

During the experiment, the unmanned aerial vehicle captured 30% of the emitted microwaves, and converted 40% of them into electricity.

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