Long-Range Wireless Power Distribution for UAVs

OVERVIEW

EDGE, the Seeker for this Innocentive Challenge, invites novel, practical solutions for wireless power transmission (WPT) that can safely and effectively deliver at least 500W of usable power over 200 meters to UAVs in flight.

Actionable solutions that could charge drones ‘over the air’ would help to overcome significant bottlenecks on their performance, related to their endurance and requirement to land for charging, refueling, or battery pack swaps. Removing this constraint and enabling them to stay aloft for longer would expand their use cases in disaster response, defense, or security.

Solvers are invited to propose any form of long-range wireless power transfer, with an emphasis on safety, performance, and the scalability of the system to support multiple drones.

The ideal solution to this Challenge would detail an effective, proven system that can achieve the specific use case with minimal changes to the UAV’s aerodynamics, components, and payload capacity. Any winning solution must also demonstrate its theoretical robustness and practical feasibility, with clear evidence, data, and an Explainer Video.
 

If you're interested in learning more about the Evaluators' requirements for this Challenge, we invite you to watch the recording of our Evaluator webinar from 23/10:

Your IP Rights are protected in this Prize Challenge; EDGE must pay you an award to obtain them.

The best solution has the opportunity to win the award of $25,000 for meeting all must have solution requirements. This Challenge requires a written proposal to be submitted and Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of the proposal by EDGE against the Solution Requirements, and in particular the quality of your evidence.

To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive license rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge.

EDGE is willing to consider a collaboration agreement if non-exclusive IP rights cannot be transferred by a Solver that is an organization owning the IP rights in their proposed solution.
 

WIN Scouts are invited to participate in this Challenge, this being any Solver who can propose a potentially suitable partner from your network. By referring a relevant partner you could receive a share of a separate $1,000 referral award if they submit a shortlisted solution.

Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on November 3rd, 2025.
 

Please review the later Participation Guidance section before submitting a proposal.
 

- Login or register your interest to start solving or scouting! -

ABOUT THE SEEKER & ELIGIBILITY

Launched in November 2019, the UAE’s EDGE is one of the world’s leading advanced technology groups, established to develop agile, bold and disruptive solutions for defence and beyond, and to be a catalyst for change and transformation. It is dedicated to bringing breakthrough innovations, products, and services to market with greater speed and efficiency, to position the UAE as a leading global hub for future industries, and to creating clear paths within the sector for the next generation of highly-skilled talent to thrive.

With a focus on the adoption of 4IR technologies, EDGE is driving the development of sovereign capabilities for global export and for the preservation of national security, working with front-line operators, international partners, and adopting advanced technologies such as autonomous capabilities, cyber-physical systems, advanced propulsion systems, robotics and smart materials. EDGE converges R&D, emerging technologies, digital transformation, and commercial market innovations with military capabilities to develop disruptive solutions tailored to the specific requirements of its customers. Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, capital of the UAE, EDGE consolidates more than 35 entities into six core clusters: Platforms & Systems, Missiles & Weapons, Space & Cyber Technologies, Trading & Mission Support, Technology & Innovation, and Homeland Security.

For more information, visit edgegroup.ae   
This Challenge opportunity invites individual innovators, teams, start-ups, research institutes, and established companies from anywhere in the world, except:

• Employees of EDGE Group and its affiliates;
• Employees of agents or suppliers of EDGE Group or any of its affiliates, who are professionally connected with the Challenge or its administration;
• Members of the immediate families or households of the aforementioned;
• Any person or entity registered or ordinarily resident in a country that is on a sanctions list at any time during this Challenge (including, but not limited to, the Sanctions Lists maintained by the United States, the United Nations and the European Union).

WIN Scouts are invited to participate in this Challenge, this being any Solver who can propose a potentially suitable partner from your network. By referring a relevant partner you could receive a share of a separate $1,000 recognition award if they submit a shortlisted solution.

THE CHALLENGE

Background

While unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are at the forefront of critical operations in defense, disaster response, logistics, and the commercial sector, a major bottleneck remains: their flight time. Whether in quadcopters or fixed-wing drones, finding new ways to keep them aloft for longer (by reducing their requirements for frequent charging or battery swaps) could improve their endurance, removing current restrictions on mission scope, responsiveness, and efficiency.

The onboard power systems of drones come with existing drawbacks: batteries restrict flight time due to the need for recharging or pack swaps, and fuel-based systems provide greater complexity and have a corresponding environmental impact. Increasing battery sizes or fuel capacities isn’t always possible, especially for smaller, lightweight UAVs with specific operation constraints.

Wireless power transmission (WPT) could offer a paradigm shift. By transmitting power remotely, through delivery methods like electromagnetic waves or lasers, UAVs could receive energy while airborne - removing the need for battery swaps or frequent landings. Despite recent advances in wireless energy transfer, practical, scalable power delivery at long-range remains unsolved.

For UAVs in particular, there are specific considerations:

• Maintaining beam alignment with the UAV to ensure it receives the wireless power;
• Ensuring safe operations for humans, animals, or other aircraft in the path or vicinity;
• Adherence to specific electromagnetic and aviation regulations;
• Integrating with existing designs without compromising the aerodynamics of the drone or its operational capacity (e.g., payload-carrying ability)
• Enabling effective power transfer at a feasible cost would make WPT a more feasible alternative to battery swaps or refueling.

EDGE is interested in discovering solutions that can move beyond these constraints in an actionable, effective system for power transfer.

The Challenge

Solvers are invited to design and describe a functional, wireless power transmission system that can safely and effectively deliver at least 500 Watts (W) of usable electric power to drones in flight, at a minimum effective distance of 200 meters.

Applications can be based on any WPT method – microwave energy, radio-frequency (RF), laser, hybrid solutions, or novel techniques – provided that the energy transfer is effective and can be aligned to a moving UAV target or targets (in flight). Your proposal should describe and detail:

• Full system setup, including: power source, transmission method, targeting method, tracking and beam alignment to a moving target or targets, receiver module.
• Expected performance (EDGE is interested in at minimum 200m distance for energy transfer, at a 500 W level), including: conversion efficiencies, distance at which effective power transfer occurs, level of power transmitted
• Safety protocols and risk factors
• Operation description, including feasibility for supporting multiple UAVs simultaneously
• Required changes to drone design, weight, components, and payload margins

The UAV types under consideration for this Challenge are small-to-medium quadcopters or fixed-wing drones. The wireless power transmission platform may be ground-based, airborne, or mobile, given that the performance of the power transmission does not falter between modes.

Solutions will be expected to show evidence of performance, surpassing TRL6, ideally through flight trial data, simulation results, or other evidence. Please include expected or realized performance metrics, including:

• Effectiveness of link to the drone, including time-to-charge
• Conversion efficiencies for power transfer over distance
• Targeting/beam alignment success and tracking methodologies
• Impact of variable environmental conditions, such as wind, weather, or vibration

Your submission must be supported by technical documentation and video demonstrations (e.g., simulations, prototypes, working demo, or explainer video) – the quality and robustness of your evidence is a major evaluation criteria for this Challenge. Submissions based purely on theoretical concepts without data, test-backed outcomes, simulations, or real-world evidence are not of interest in this Challenge.

SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS

EDGE is primarily interested in proposals which meet the following requirements:

Must have:

1. Your Explainer Video for your solution – supplement with simulations, or promotional videos if available
2. Demonstration and description of an effective, wireless power transmission method to drones in flight at a distance of 200 meters and 500 W output.
3. Operation documentation for how the method, system, or solution achieves:
   • Power transmission
   • Beam alignment or targeting/tracking of the drone as it moves
   • Safety mechanisms for people, animals, equipment, the drone, and other aircraft.
4. Robust technical evidence supporting the operation and performance of the power transfer (3-5 minute explainer/demonstration videos, simulation or prototype test data, validated models)
5. Clear outlines of cost and deployment steps for the system, including any resulting impact on weight/components of the UAV itself and its payload-carrying ability.
   • Solutions with a minimal impact on the UAV’s aerodynamics, components, weight, payload capacity, or operations are favored.
6. The proposed solution should provide EDGE "freedom to practice” or be available for potential licensing or a collaboration if from an organization, there should be no third-party patents or patent applications preventing the use of the proposed solution.

Additionally, EDGE is also interested in solutions which demonstrate the following nice-to-have criteria.

1. Outline of regulatory compliance with relevant aviation and power transmission safety guidelines.
2. Description of problem-solving to surpass operational scenario blockers, e.g., wind, beams blocked by objects, prioritization of lowest-power drones first.

Judging Criteria

EDGE’s evaluation team will consider the following criteria when reviewing your solution proposal:

• Effective and plausible, performance-driven solution: evaluators will be looking for demonstrable signs that your solution for wireless power transfer can achieve the minimum 500 W transfer at a distance of 200 meters to a moving, in-flight target or targets.
• Robust data and video evidence: providing EDGE with the detail and real-world performance (including simulations) that your power transfer method will be effective for this scenario.
• Integration and cost-effectiveness: your solution is feasible for current example UAVs (quadcopters or fixed-wing), with minimal impact on UAV performance, weight, payload capacity, and an improvement to their endurance (flight time) without landing.
• Operational detail and potential implementation: providing EDGE evaluators with comprehensive description, data, and cost/operation instructions would place your submission at a higher level of Technological Readiness.

Solutions with Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 6-9 are invited.

This Prize Challenge has the following features:

1. Your IP Rights are protected; EDGE must pay you an award to obtain them.
2. The best solution has the opportunity to win the award of $25,000 USD for meeting all must have solution requirements, as solely determined by EDGE.
3. Awards will be contingent upon the theoretical evaluation of your proposal by EDGE against the Solution Requirements, in particular the quality of your evidence.
4. To receive an Award, Solvers are required to grant non-exclusive rights to the Intellectual Property (IP) in their proposed solution. Solvers will retain all rights to any proposal not Awarded. There is no assignment of IP Rights with this challenge.
5. EDGE is willing to consider a collaboration agreement if non-exclusive IP rights cannot be transferred by a Solver that is an organization owning the IP rights in their proposed solution.
6. EDGE may also issue “Honorable Mention” recognitions for notable submissions that are not selected for monetary awards.
7. WIN Scouts are invited to participate in this Challenge, this being any Solver who can propose a potentially suitable partner from your network. By referring a relevant partner you could receive a share of a separate $1,000 referral award if they submit a shortlisted solution. The input required is guided during the submission process for WIN Scouts below. 

YOUR SUBMISSION

Please log in and register your interest to complete the submission form.

The submitted proposals must be written in English and can include:

1. Participation type – you will first be asked to inform us how you are participating in this challenge, as a Solver (Individual), Solver (Organization), or WIN Scout (submission uses an alternative form).
2. Solution Level - the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of your solution.
3. Problem & Opportunity - highlight the innovation in your approach to the Problem, its point of difference, and the specific advantages/benefits this brings (up to 500 words).
4. Solution Overview - detail the features of your solution and how they address the SOLUTION REQUIREMENTS. In particular your detail about Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) or Energy Transfer Method, Solution Performance, Operation Documentation, demonstrated Technical Evidence, and Cost/Deployment Information (500 words, there is space to add more in the summary field, and attach supporting data, diagrams, etc – ensure you attach your Explainer Video).
5. Solution Feasibility – Supporting Information and Rationale, such as references and precedents, that will help EDGE evaluate and validate the feasibility of the solution. Include your test data, simulated results, or research-backed outcomes about usable power delivery, targeting and beam alignment, conversion efficiencies, and weight/payload implications for the UAV (up to 500 words).
6. Experience - Expertise, use cases and skills you or your organization have in relation to your proposed solution (up to 500 words).
7. Solution Risks - any risks you see with your solution and how you would plan for this (up to 500 words).
8. Timeline, capability and costs - describe what you think is required to deliver the solution, estimated time and cost (up to 500 words).
9. Online References - provide links to any publications, articles or press releases of relevance (up to 500 words)
10. Attachments – please ensure you attach your Explainer Video, data, research, and/or simulated results for the judges to evaluate.

PARTICIPATION GUIDANCE

1. Submission Close Date: Submissions to this Challenge must be received by 11:59 PM (US Eastern Time) on November 3rd, 2025.
2. Late submissions: Late submissions will not be considered.
3. Multiple submissions, 3 Maximum: In case of multiple submissions by the same Solver, only 3 submissions – the final 3 submitted – will be considered. Any other submissions will be deleted prior to evaluation.
4. Submission form and attachments: Your submission will be evaluated by the evaluation team first reviewing the information and content you have submitted at the submission form, with attachments used as additional context to your form submission. Submissions relying solely on attachments will receive less attention from the evaluation team.
5. Interviews: These will be arranged for the authors of shortlisted proposed solutions.
6. Evaluation notification steps: After the Challenge submission close date, EDGE will review and select the winning ideas/solutions according to the timeline in the Challenge header. Everyone who submits a proposal will be notified about the status of their submissions.
7. Use of AI: Please note that any submissions produced solely with generative AI are not of interest.

Learn more: Find out more about participation in Innocentive Challenges