Lasers used to power helicopter flight

[Analogue]

I thought that people here might find the following article interesting. A small helicopter was powered by laser pointers.

Ascending Technologies and LaserMotive create a new record. | sUAS News

I wonder if it wouldn't be too difficult to pull this off at home. They seem to set a flight duration record of 12 hours for beam powered flight. I wonder if it would be difficult to beat this record.

 

[BShanahan14rulz]

Reminds me of this:
YouTube - Laser Pumped Flying Saucer Spacecraft

Although yours is actually a way to move energy using lasers, which would be nice if it could be used for higher powers
:drool:

 

[lasersbee]

You would think that 250 Lasers aimed at the same point...
you would be able to see a beam...

Then again... 250 1mW Lasers would only be 250mW..


Jerry

 

[hydrogenman15]

Very cool stuff.8) I took a small solar panel and shined my .5 watt 445nm laser at it to see what would happen. It outputs A LOT. I bet if you could aim multiple 1 watt 445nm lasers at it you could make it strong enough to power a small rc helicopter (just make sure you don't melt the solar cell, or the helicopter).