The tests were conducted at a military training ground in Maryland and MIT and were successful in both cases – the efficiency of the transfer was about 60%.

How did you manage to transfer energy?

The principle is quite simple: electricity is converted into microwaves and then focused into a beam aimed at a receiver equipped with an antenna with a built-in rectifier. When microwaves enter this so-called rectum, a direct current is produced.

Despite initial doubts, microwave radiation proved surprisingly effective, and Christopher Rodenbeck’s team was commissioned by the US Department of Defense to develop the device. SCOPE-M for safe and long-term wireless transmission of microwave energy.

Research setup ready

SCOPE-M was located at two locations: at the Blossom Point test site in Maryland and at MIT in Massachusetts. The beam frequency was 10 GHz and was chosen not only to transmit with an energy loss of not more than 5% in heavy rain, but also to pose no danger to animals and humans. This means that the system does not need an automatic beam closure function in case of being passed by a living thing.

In tests in Maryland, the beam reached 60% efficiency. In Massachusetts, the peak was lower, but the average power level was higher, meaning more energy was transferred.

Researchers talk about how SCOPE-M works: watch video

why do you need this

One day, such technology would allow electricity to be sent from orbit to Earth, but so far the Pentagon is more concerned with the possibility of direct energy transfer on the battlefield, which would eliminate vulnerable fuel sources.

Previously, experts from the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) and military-industrial company Northrop Grumman conducted the first demonstration of key equipment for industrial-scale power generation in Earth orbit. Leaf panels with innovative components successfully converted solar energy into radio frequencies and transmitted it to a receiving device that could be found anywhere on Earth.