ELECTRIC SKY INC — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: HR001121S0007-15
ELECTRIC SKY INC — SBIR Phase I award from Department of Defense.
- Amount
- $225,000
- Agency
- Department of Defense · Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
- Program / Phase
- SBIR · Phase I
- Topic
- HR001121S0007-15
- Solicitation
- HR001121S0007.I
- NAICS
- —
- Place of performance
- WA
- Period
- 2021-09-15 → 2022-06-20
Description
Whisper Beams use a new "non-gaussian" electromagnetic wave that focuses itself at the intended receiver, making it economic and practical to deliver kilowatts of power at kilometer distances. A UAV can carry a compact receiver to draw power while in flight. Swarms of UAVs can form a transmission array relaying power over several kilometers, such as from a main base to a forward base. With DARPA SBIR Phase I funding, we will build and demonstrate the first radio-frequency Whisper Beam transmitter at a lab-bench scale,powering a short-range UAV in flight. The technology readily scales to power large UAV swarms at kilometer altitudes, and/or wirelessly transfer power from a main base to a forward base several kilometers away. We will also analyze swarm patterns to optimize power levels over long distances.