Navigating the path to business success within the Department of Defense (DOD) ecosystem presents unique challenges, particularly for startups focused on developing complex and transformative technologies. However, businesses need not face this journey alone. Critical enablers exist to provide vital support. One such resource in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is the Pacific Northwest Defense Coalition (PNDC), which offers invaluable assistance to defense technology innovators through its innovation arm, the Pacific Northwest Mission Acceleration Center (PNW MAC).
PNDC/PNW MAC supports a variety of defense technology innovation programs, including initiatives with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), NATO’s DIANA, and NavalX through the Northwest Tech Bridge. PNDC assesses that the effectiveness of support provided to defense technology innovators can best be measured by the results achieved by the private sector firms receiving that support. The following case study highlights recent efforts to assist Kent, Washington-based PowerLight Technologies, a company leveraging disruptive technology to advance defense capabilities.
PowerLight, a small non-traditional defense contractor, is at the forefront of developing long-distance power beaming solutions designed to support and power autonomous systems at scale, targeting both defense and commercial markets. As a small enterprise, navigating the complex network of DOD and U.S. government agencies is a particularly challenging yet critical aspect of its operations. However, collaboration with PNDC/PNW MAC this year has enabled PowerLight to capitalize on several key engagement opportunities, advancing the firm toward developing requirements, conducting potential trials, and supporting transition efforts related to wireless power beaming for a DOD unmanned aerial system (UAS) program.
In June 2024, PNW MAC facilitated a visit for a cohort of DIANA Challenge pilot companies to PowerLight, where the company provided an overview of its history, technology, and the challenges and successes it has encountered in pursuing the DOD market. Each of the participating NATO DIANA firms presented individual technology briefs, and collaborative discussions ensued. Notably, PowerLight engaged with Dolphin Labs, a California-based company focused on ocean wave power generation technologies. This initial discussion evolved into more extensive conversations, ultimately fostering collaboration between PowerLight and multiple DOD mission partners. This collaboration is exploring the integration of power beaming with ocean wave power generation platforms to support distributed wireless power beaming systems in maritime environments. These operational energy nodes, combining sustainable power generation with power beaming distribution, could provide wireless power to UAS platforms while supporting maritime sensing and unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV) charging capabilities.
Further facilitating these efforts, PNW MAC played a pivotal role in connecting PowerLight with both the Marine Corps Warfighting Lab (MCWL) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). These introductions have led to productive engagement with both organizations, sparking interest in leveraging power beaming technology to address a range of operational energy challenges. For the Marine Corps, power beaming’s potential to enhance distributed operations, particularly under Expeditionary Advanced Base Operations (EABO), has captured significant interest. MCWL is now actively exploring how power beaming can support operational energy requirements in this context, with discussions focusing on identifying and testing relevant concepts of operations (CONOPS).
The same series of meetings facilitated PowerLight’s introduction to INL’s senior leadership, unlocking a critical new pathway into the Department of Energy (DOE). Given the dual-use nature of power beaming, this engagement is significant for PowerLight, particularly in terms of supporting infrastructure resilience and the extension of energy grids to critical areas. INL’s interest in supporting the PTROL-UAS (Power Transmitted Over Laser to UAS) program through its UAS Test Range, combined with DOE’s mission to enhance national energy infrastructure resilience, presents a unique opportunity for PowerLight. Specifically, wireless power beaming could enable UAS platforms to extend their range, endurance, and payload capacity for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) missions, contributing to rapid response and recovery in the wake of catastrophic events such as hurricanes.
The PNDC/PNW MAC and PowerLight teams are pleased with the progress made in advancing power beaming technology’s consideration and application across new mission areas. Looking ahead to 2025, the PNDC/PNW MAC team is committed to continuing its support of PowerLight in driving these efforts forward, helping to meet urgent U.S. national security requirements and contributing to the development of a robust U.S.-based ecosystem in the Pacific Northwest. This collaboration aims to position the region as a global leader in the development and deployment of power beaming technology.
