Testing the vulnerability of lightweight drone propellers to high-energy laser irradiations

V. Allheily; B. Foulon; M. Couchoux; L.-X. Lefranc; M. Guerchoux; C. Bruder; L. Merlat

doi:10.1117/12.2682925

23 October 2023 Testing the vulnerability of lightweight drone propellers to high-energy laser irradiations

V. Allheily, B. Foulon, M. Couchoux, L.-X. Lefranc, M. Guerchoux, C. Bruder, L. Merlat

Proceedings Volume 12739, High Power Lasers: Technology and Systems, Platforms, Effects VI; 1273907 (2023) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682925
Event: SPIE Security + Defence, 2023, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Abstract

While the effectiveness of innovative high-energy laser demonstrators against lightweight drones is daily being shown in several countries around the world, the understanding of the phenomena occurring during the intensive interaction of the laser beam with the target, which will also later lead to a more efficient and safer use, is far from being exhaustive. This paper focuses on the vulnerability of different kinds of rotating drone propellers submitted to high-energy laser irradiations up to 10 kW. The near-infrared spectral response and the high-temperature thermal behavior are first presented, emphasizing that both type of propellers mainly differ in color only (glossy white and matt black). The high-energy laser trial setup is further detailed with a special focus on the propeller test bench and on a dual-wavelength radiometric device specifically developed to record the temperature of a high-speed rotating target (5000 rpm). Finally, the experimental outcomes are discussed, illustrating the major role of the color of the propeller of course, but also of the laser pointing area and its distance from the rotation center of the propeller.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

V. Allheily, B. Foulon, M. Couchoux, L.-X. Lefranc, M. Guerchoux, C. Bruder, and L. Merlat "Testing the vulnerability of lightweight drone propellers to high-energy laser irradiations", Proc. SPIE 12739, High Power Lasers: Technology and Systems, Platforms, Effects VI, 1273907 (23 October 2023); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2682925

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