Breakthrough in Omni-Directional Dynamic Beaming
China's ambitious pursuit of Space-Based Solar Power (SBSP) has achieved a historic milestone through its flagship "Zhuri Project" (Project Chasing the Sun). Led by Duan Baoyan, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and professor at Xidian University, the research team successfully demonstrated a hundred-meter-scale, kilowatt-level wireless power transmission. This achievement was recently evaluated by an expert panel at the Shaanxi Technology Transfer Center and officially rated as "internationally leading" in its overall technical capability.
The most critical leap in this milestone is the transition from "one-to-one" fixed transmission-achieved by the team in 2022-to "one-to-many, dynamic target" microwave wireless power transfer. Rather than locking onto a single, stationary receiver, the newly developed system functions as an intelligent, adaptive "space charging station." It is capable of tracking and simultaneously supplying power to multiple moving targets, such as satellites operating in different orbits or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) mid-flight.
Rigorous Ground Verification and Hard Data
The breakthrough was rigorously tested and verified using a 75-meter-high experimental tower on the Xidian University campus, yielding remarkable empirical results. Over a distance of approximately 100 meters, the ground verification system successfully delivered an output power of 1,180 watts.
In a secondary phase of dynamic testing, the system successfully tracked and powered a moving UAV flying at a speed of 30 kilometers per hour at a distance of 30 meters. The drone maintained a stable received power of 143 watts throughout the flight. These metrics confirm that the system possesses the structural precision and software responsiveness required to manage high-power wireless energy under non-static conditions.
Architectural Innovations for Orbital Deployment
To prepare this technology for the harsh realities of a 36,000-kilometer geostationary orbit, the engineering team introduced radical design overhauls, focusing heavily on weight reduction and system integration. Antennas were heavily miniaturized and lightened to meet strict payload limits for rocket launches.
This distributed architecture allows multiple smaller satellite units to fly in formation and work collaboratively. This dramatically enhances the operational lifespan and reliability of future orbital power plants, mitigates high-voltage discharge risks, and lays a solid foundation for a resilient, interconnected space energy grid.