System and methods are described herein for providing wireless power to a target device, such as a laptop computer, a mobile phone, a vehicle, robot, or an unmanned aerial vehicle or system (UAV) or (UAS). A tunable multi-element transmitter may transmit electromagnetic radiation (EMR) to the target device using any of a wide variety of frequency bands. A location determination subsystem and/or range determination subsystem may determine a relative location, orientation, and/or rotation of the target device. For a target device within a distance range for which a smallest achievable waist of the Gaussian beam of the EMR at an operational frequency is smaller than the multi-element EMR receiver of the target device, a non-Gaussian beamform may be determined to increase efficiency, decrease overheating, reduce spillover, increase total power output of rectenna receivers on the target device, or achieve another target power delivery goal.

An apparatus, system, and method directed to the charging of electronic devices, and in particular to the wireless charging of battery enabled devices using FM band signals

Systems and methods for charging unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using ultra-low frequency wireless power transfer technology are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a UAV can carry a wireless power transfer (WPT) unit configured to transfer power from a utility powerline to the UAV. The WPT unit can include a first field guiding portion configured to wirelessly couple to the powerline, a second field guiding portion operatively coupled to the first field guiding portion, and an induction coil operatively coupled to the UAV and at least partially wound around at least one of the first field guiding portion or the second field guiding portion. The first and second field guiding portions can be configured to guide a magnetic field generated by current passing through the powerline toward the induction coil for inductive charging. In some embodiments, the WPT unit can include a capacitor plate and a dielectric material for capacitive charging.

Systems and methods for charging unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) using ultra-low frequency wireless power transfer technology are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a UAV can carry a wireless power transfer (WPT) unit configured to transfer power from a utility powerline to the UAV. The WPT unit can include a first field guiding portion configured to wirelessly couple to the powerline, a second field guiding portion operatively coupled to the first field guiding portion, and an induction coil operatively coupled to the UAV and at least partially wound around at least one of the first field guiding portion or the second field guiding portion. The first and second field guiding portions can be configured to guide a magnetic field generated by current passing through the powerline toward the induction coil for inductive charging. In some embodiments, the WPT unit can include a capacitor plate and a dielectric material for capacitive charging.

A system and method for a mobile hybrid transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) node for wireless resonant power delivery is disclosed. A hybrid TX/RX can be configured to travel to remote, wirelessly-powerable receivers and deliver power to them wirelessly. A hybrid TX/RX device can include a transmitter component (TX), a receiver (RX) component, and a power store for storing power for supply to remote receivers. The TX/RX device can be configured in an autonomous unmanned vehicle operational to travel between a fixed source transmitter devices and one or more specified locations that may be host to one or more remote receivers. In the location of the one or more remote receivers, the TX component may function to wirelessly transfer power from the power store to the one or more remote receivers. In the location of the fixed source transmitter device, RX component can be configured to receive power via wireless power transfer, and to use the received power to at least partially replenish the power store.

An embodiment of an antenna configured to form a high-power beam, such as a battery-charging beam, includes a transmission structure, signal couplers, amplifiers, and antenna elements. The transmission structure (e.g., a waveguide) is configured to carry a reference signal (e.g., a traveling reference wave), and each of the signal couplers is configured to generate a respective intermediate signal in response to the reference signal at a respective location along the transmission structure. Each of the amplifiers is configured to amplify, selectively, an intermediate signal from a respective one of the couplers, and each of the antenna elements (e.g., conductive patches) is configured to radiate a respective elemental signal in response to an amplified intermediate signal from a respective one of the amplifiers. In operation, the elemental signals interfere with one another to form a transmission beam, such as a battery-charging, or other high-power, transmission beam.

An unmanned battery optimization vehicle includes a transceiver, a battery optimization apparatus, and a control circuit. The transceiver is configured to transmit and receive signals. The battery optimization apparatus is configured to interact with a battery disposed at an unmanned autonomous vehicle. The control circuit is coupled to the transceiver and the battery optimization apparatus. The control circuit is configured to cause the unmanned battery optimization vehicle to independently navigate and travel to a present location of the autonomous vehicle based at least in part upon the signals received at the transceiver. When the unmanned battery optimization vehicle reaches the present location of the unmanned autonomous vehicle, the control circuit is further configured to direct the battery optimization apparatus to engage in an interaction with the battery at the unmanned autonomous vehicle. The interaction is effective to optimize battery operation at the unmanned autonomous vehicle.

A drone charging station configured to receive at least one drone, the docking station including an elongated docking shaft sized to engage with the at least one drone, the docking shaft having a drone entrance end and a drone exit end opposite the drone entrance end; and a drone guiding thread helically disposed along the elongated docking shaft, the drone guiding thread configured to engage with a corresponding guiding region on the at least one drone to allow the at least drone to move along the drone guiding thread from the drone entrance end to the drone exit end.

An enclosed multi-dimensional system for converting electromagnetic (EM) energy into electricity. An electromagnetic energy convertor (EMEC) device comprises a plurality of electromagnetic (EM) energy converting cells disposed in a single-piece, at-least-partially transparent, insulating medium selected from a list of luminescent, transmissive, absorptive, diffusive, refractive, dispersive, conductive, and dielectric materials or a combination thereof. The medium facilitates the propagation of the electromagnetic energy within the EMEC device and helps to optimize its conversion to electricity by the plurality of electromagnetic (EM) energy converting cells. The plurality of electromagnetic (EM) energy converting cells are disposed at least partially within the medium. A method is provided for optimizing the power per occupied surface area of the electromagnetic energy convertor (EMEC) device by adjusting the medium diffusivity and setting positions and/or the orientations of the plurality of electromagnetic (EM) energy converting cells by adjusting at least one of three main physical parameters.

Systems for transmitting power to and from flight vehicles, and associated devices and methods are described herein. A representative flight power-transmission system includes a surface-based transmitter on or adjacent to the surface of the Earth, a flight platform remote from the surface-based transmitter, and a free electron laser (FEL) carried by the flight platform. The transmitter is configured to transmit electromagnetic radiation to the FEL, and the FEL is configured to receive at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation from the FEL and generate a laser beam based at least in part on the received electromagnetic radiation. The flight platform can be an aerostat positioned at high altitude within the stratosphere. The FEL can direct the laser beam for one or more end uses, such as (i) supplying power to a downrange electric aircraft, (ii) supplying power to a surface-based receiver, (iii) providing directed-energy for destroying or disabling a target, and/or (iv) providing directed-energy for clearing orbital debris.