The following couple of posts are from the trip we took to Seattle to evaluate LaserMotive’s power beaming system. Unlike the TRUMPF based teams, LaserMotive own two laser modules of their own (manufactured by Dilas) and so can run full power tests at their facility.
LaserMotive was formed around the competition, but is setting its sights on Power Beaming as a commercial application. They are led by Dr. Jordin Kare, an old hand at the laser business. LaserMotive made its first appearance in the 2007 Space Elevator games, but equipment problems (too many pre-owned components!) got in their way.
Not this year.
LaserMotive is using a pair of vehicles as their power beaming system – a beam director trailer, and a control vehicle. (Both KCSP and USST have integrated both functions into a single vehicle). The main reason is that because of the type of laser source they use, their optical system is just physically larger, as can be seen in the first photograph.
The system uses two parallel beams, which originate in the two cube like devices at the back, are folded over several times as they bounce between the mirrors, and eventually exits through the top hatch after having bounced from the large bottom mirror. For testing, a last mirror is introduced at the top, diverting the beam so it comes out horizontally out the back of the trailer.
During testing, the tracking and control system is located in the beam director trailer (notice the excellent taste demonstrated by the choice of sitting hardware), but during real operations, it will be located in the control vehicle.
Just like when operating the Death Star’s main laser (the original Star Wars, aka Episode 4) Carsten has to lean forward into the instrument panel as the beam radiates over his back. (Well, I’m getting carried away, he doesn’t. I just like to think that he would have to… Star Wars was the first film I ever saw, and so serves as a standard to many things I do. But I digress.)
Other than minor corrections, the system is definitely ready to go.
Next up, the melt tests.






For the obvious reasons, I invariably get too busy to blog exactly when things get interesting...