Laser-Powered Drones

SolaNika has raised seed funding to develop laser-based wireless power for drones.

5 Jul 26

Tokyo startup SolaNika develops laser-based wireless power systems for drones.

The company, founded in May 2025, raised an undisclosed seed round this week to develop laser-based wireless power transmission for drones. Rather than increasing battery capacity, SolaNika’s system keeps a drone airborne by transmitting energy from a ground station to an onboard receiver.

According to the company, CEO Mai Kikuchi became interested in wireless power transmission after encountering the economics of space exploration, where transporting payloads can cost around ¥150 million, or roughly $1 million, per kilogram.

Separating the power source from a spacecraft could reduce onboard battery mass, although the transmission system would add its own hardware requirements.

Drones could receive power continuously while operating inside the laser-powered service area.

SolaNika was selected for Honda’s IGNITION startup programme, received research grant support from the Mitsubishi UFJ Technology Development Foundation for automated laser tracking and predictive control, and has signed a basic agreement with EAMS Robotics. EAMS is a Fukushima-based industrial drone company focused on inspection and infrastructure monitoring. The agreement will integrate wireless power technology into operational platforms.

The projects remain in development.

Laser power systems need line of sight and accurate tracking of moving aircraft. Vibration, weather and atmospheric conditions can affect beam alignment and transmission, while beam-safety regulations constrain operation.

SolaNika says it has achieved more than 20 percent laser wireless power transmission efficiency and is targeting a long-duration drone hovering demonstration during 2026.

Space agencies including JAXA have researched laser-based wireless power transmission for decades as part of space-based solar power concepts. SolaNika is developing a terrestrial application for powering drones.

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