Reach Power achieves 10-hour autonomous drone flight via wireless power

Reach Power has successfully completed a demonstration of a 10-hour autonomous drone flight powered by wireless radiofrequency energy beaming. The test, conducted at the Virginia Tech Institute for Advanced Computing, utilized onboard visual navigation and autonomous energy management to maintain flight without GPS, external tracking sensors, manual controls, or physical tethers.

During the flight, the drone monitored its own battery levels in real time. Once fully charged, the aircraft moved out of the power beam range, and upon reaching a programmed energy threshold, it autonomously returned to the power source to request more energy. The transmitter used electronic beam steering to reacquire the drone without mechanical movement, facilitating a machine-to-machine cycle without human intervention.

This demonstration, part of the Operational Energy–Innovation (OE-I) “2026 Energy Sentry” event, was live-streamed to participants at the Pentagon. The technology extends the drone's operational duration from a standard 90-second battery life to 10 hours, representing a 400-fold increase. The system aims to reduce logistical burdens and personnel requirements for continuous surveillance, reconnaissance, and communication missions.