Wireless Power Extends Drone Flight Time by 400X
The 10-hour demonstration removes the need for physical tethers or frequent battery swaps for small uncrewed aerial systems.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Robotics
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Reach Power completed a 10-hour autonomous drone flight on September 22, 2026, using wireless power beaming to sustain flight. This demonstration utilized onboard processing to manage energy requests without GPS, physical tethers, or manual control.
Why it matters
Wireless power transmission addresses the battery limitations that restrict small uncrewed aerial systems to short flight times. This capability removes the requirement for charging infrastructure and personnel, potentially enabling continuous autonomous operations.
The drone achieved a 10-hour flight time, a 400X improvement over its 90-second internal battery limit. The system uses software-defined electronics to steer RF energy beams to the receiver, eliminating the need for mechanical transmitter movement.
The players
Reach Power
A developer of wireless energy transmission technology focused on sustaining uncrewed aerial system endurance.
ModalAI
A U.S. manufacturer of drone hardware and software-defined flight systems used in the demonstration.
The details
The aircraft autonomously monitored its state of charge to initiate power requests and relocate when fully energized. Electronically steered beams reacquired the aircraft's position during flight without requiring GPS, tethers, or manual flight controls. The system relies on ModalAI components that are NDAA-compliant, ensuring the hardware meets specific U.S. supply chain standards.
Timeline
September 22, 2026: The autonomous wireless drone flight demonstration took place.
The Tech Race
This demonstration serves as a key performance milestone following the 2026 Energy Sentry event. It benchmarks against traditional short-range lithium-battery constraints, positioning wireless power as a scalable alternative for long-endurance autonomous flight.
This technology aims to eliminate the need for battery replacements and charging personnel in continuous surveillance or logistics missions. While the demonstration proves the capability, Reach Power has not yet released availability or pricing for commercial adoption.
The takeaway
Wireless power beaming effectively decouples flight time from battery capacity for small drones. Future commercial viability depends on upcoming product releases and the scaling of beam-steering infrastructure announced by the developers.
Further reading
For more on the latest advancements in unmanned flight, see Robotics.
Source note: This article includes information reported by sUAS News - The Business of Drones.
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