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. 2025 May 3;15(1):15513.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00429-0.

Free-flight and tracking experiments of a multi-parabola laser propulsion vehicle

Masayuki Takahashi  1 , Yuya Hayadate  2 , Koichi Mori  3 , Akihiro Hayakawa  4
Affiliations

Free-flight and tracking experiments of a multi-parabola laser propulsion vehicle

Masayuki Takahashi et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

A free-flight experiment involving a multi-parabola laser propulsion vehicle was conducted using repetitive laser pulses at a repetition frequency of 50 Hz and an energy of 4.93 J per pulse. Observations made with a camera indicated that the vehicle achieved a maximum altitude of 110 mm; however, it deviated from the laser beam line due to initial misalignment of the laser setup. To improve flight stability, we developed a tracking system to monitor the vehicle's motion and control the laser irradiation position. Performance requirements were assessed based on the free-flight experiment data, revealing that the vehicle attained a maximum translational speed of 0.08 m/s before deviation occurred. Our tracking system was evaluated to have a trackable speed of 0.09 m/s, meeting the performance requirements for free flight and capable of stabilizing the repetitive pulse flight of a laser propulsion vehicle.

Keywords: Free flight; Laser propulsion; Tracking system.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Beam pattern and initial offsets.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Series of snapshots of the free-flight vehicle and trajectory.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Relationship between the vehicle and laser axis depending on flight altitude. Translational velocity with pulse timing.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Breakdown experiment to measure output voltage.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
Tracking experiment for a moving target.
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Experimental setting for free flight.
Fig. 7
Fig. 7
Flowchart of image processing.
Fig. 8
Fig. 8
Complete system for image processing and laser position control. Setup for the tracking experiment.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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