Department of Defense

DARPA is entering the first phase of the Persistent Optical Wireless Energy Relay (POWER) program, aimed at revolutionizing energy distribution through airborne wireless power transfer. Three teams -- led by RTX Corporation, Draper Laboratory, and BEAM Co. -- will design and develop wireless optical power relays. The program goals include demonstrating the key components necessary for a resilient, speed-of-light energy network.

DARPA awarded $750,000 to further develop solutions as part of AI Tools for Adult Learning - a competitive opportunity launched last fall that focused on helping adults learn complex topics necessary for the current and future national security workforce.

In popular culture, quantum is a descriptive term often added to various technical topics and projects to make them sound cool. But what is quantum mechanics, really, and how do we know whether quantum technologies will transform computing, communications, sensing, and a host of other fields?