EADS have developed a way to transmit (electric) energy through a laser beam, enabling a small space rover to drive around without an own power supply. The Laser acts not only as a power source, but at the same time as a navigation device. This opens up very interesting possibilities such as energy transmission from orbit to earth, or, on a smaller scale energy supply from orbit to lunar/mars probes - making them more flexible and cheaper. Or as the company's press machine explains, "With the development of a high-precision control system for energy transmission by means of lasers, EADS Space Transportation has achieved a first milestone in the field of future solar power supply directly from space. The algorithm specifically developed for this purpose will allow for the first time to precisely transmit energy and data onto an object, according to EADS SPACE Transportation during a press conference held in Bremen on Tuesday. Using ground simulation facilities, engineers and researchers were able to furnish evidence that thanks to the new technology energy-transmitting laser and receiver - in this case a moving micro-rover, which in a larger version is also intended for use on future space missions - can automatically and exactly keep contact with each other." Full press release here.