A microwave powered high altitude platform

A system is described for the reception of microwave power from a remote transmitter and its conversion to DC power when movement of the receiver system relative to the transmitter may occur. The operation of the receiver/converter is demonstrated through the flight of a microwave-powered aircraft. A high-power transmitter at 2.45 GHz was used to beam energy to the aircraft circling overhead. A custom printed-circuit array of dipole antennas with associated rectifying diodes coating the underside of the plane converted the microwave energy to direct current to power the electric motor.<>