#photonics

Researchers built a wing-mounted receiver that converted green laser light into electricity at 38.49% efficiency and powered a stationary drone model’s propeller. The result could support longer missions one day, but it was a laboratory proof of concept, not an in-flight charging demonstration. A Laser Powered a Drone Propeller From a Distance, but the Drone Has Not Flown Yet

Researchers proposed a programmable photonic circuit that can adjust how long light is delayed and reshape its frequency response. The design could eventually simplify optical links and AI hardware, but it currently rests on theory and electromagnetic simulations rather than a fabricated experimental chip. A Programmable Photonic Chip Could Make Light Wait on Command