2004 Volume 53 Pages 115-124
The purpose of this paper is to develop a laser tracking system and an integrated laser propulsion/tracking system for realizing a continuous flight and control of a laser-driven micro-airplane. The laser propulsion is significantly effective to achieve the miniaturization and lightening of the micro-airplane. The laser-driven micro-airplane has been studied with a 0paper-craft airplane and YAG laser, resulting in a successful glide of the airplane. It is required that the irradiated laser is tracked to the moving micro-airplane with the laser tracking system. Furthermore, the laser propulsion system has to be combined with the laser tracking system to supply repetitive propulsion. Fundamental experiments are carried out to evaluate the performance of the developed laser tracking and laser propulsion/tracking systems.
