Under the ONR CATAPULT Phase II SBIR, Redhelm Labs is scaling its eyesafe laser power beaming system to a kW-class architecture with improved beam steering, active safety systems, and enhanced receiver design. The effort includes integration of the receiver onto an unmanned system and demonstration of sustained delivery at operationally relevant distances.

Redhelm Labs will execute a live commercial pilot demonstration in an operational facility, powering two or more deployed sensors from a single laser transmitter in a real world environment. The system will operate continuously for more than 24 hours and demonstrate beam steering, autonomous target switching, and integrated safety systems under real deployment conditions.

Through the Maryland Industrial Partnerships program, Redhelm Labs is collaborating with the University of Maryland UAS Research and Operations Center to integrate its eyesafe laser power beaming receiver onto an unmanned aerial system. This effort supports hardware refinement, flight integration, and validation of airborne power beaming in preparation for sustained in flight demonstrations.

Under the DARPA SBIR Phase I contract, Redhelm Labs developed and experimentally validated an eyesafe laser power beaming system, transmitting low power levels across more than 500 meters in an outdoor environment and achieving high optical to electrical conversion efficiency. The team designed and integrated the transmitter, photovoltaic receiver, beam steering hardware, safety systems, and control software into a fully functional architecture. The effort concluded in December 2024 after meeting all contractual milestones and demonstrating repeatable long range power transfer in field conditions.