The biggest hurdle for electric aircraft has always been the weight of the batteries, and as nimble as they are, quadrotors and octocopters typically had limited flying time before they had to land to recharge. But what if you could charge them in mid-air?

When Artemis Networks launched their revolutionary bandwidth breaking wireless data technology in 2014, few people suspected they had another, related invention up their sleeves. Their unique algorithms for creating powerful radio bubbles from many low-power transmitters could also provide enough energy to charge smartphones and electric cars – even while on the move.

Now Artemis has launched their cordless power solution for aircraft, beaming energy from a host of transmitters on rooftops and streetlamps to the drones buzzing overhead. Their software coding makes it possible, ensuring that the energy is only concentrated at the point of the receiver on the drones, and doesn’t fry the birds and insects in between.

The beauty of this system means that the transmitters don’t have to waste energy on powerful signals, and can run on solar panels in clear weather. It increases the payload for the drones, while also allowing them to fly their delivery routes non-stop; a winning formula all round.

DHL announced that they had been working behind the scenes with Artemis and would adopt the technology immediately. Amazon, eBay and Wal-Mart are bound to extend their home delivery services significantly with this breakthrough. FedEx and UPS had better get on the drone wagon, or they’ll be left behind.