Wireless power transfer: When energy is available everywhere

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• December 7, 2022

Insight summary

Wireless charging has long been a welcomed feature of smartphones and other devices. However, scientists are looking for ways to transfer the technology to more complex machines, such as robots and electric vehicles. With the latest research, the technology might finally be ready to power the next-generation autonomous devices.

Wireless power transfer context

The wireless power transfer (WPT) system is useful for various purposes, including home appliances and sensor applications. A WPT technology allows for energy transmission over a distance without the use of a direct physical link. This feature is handy in powering devices where using cables is dangerous and inconvenient. In particular, the magnetic resonant coupling wireless power transfer (MRCWPT) system is gaining attention due to its high transfer efficiency over long distances. The MRCWPT technology is very promising for charging and has been applied to medical implants, electric vehicles, sensor networks, and consumer electronics. 

In 2020, University of Stanford researchers successfully demonstrated how WPT could be applied to robotics, electric cars, and drones. While wireless charging pads for cellphones are already available, they only work if the phone is stationary. However, this practice would be inconvenient for electric cars as it would mean plugging in at charging stations for an hour or two daily.

Two Stanford engineers published their findings in the Nature scientific journal, where they described a technology that could be scaled up in the future to power moving electric vehicles. The new lab prototype can wirelessly transmit 10 watts of electricity over a distance of up to 1 meter. The engineers say that with some adjustments, the system could provide power for an electric car that needs tens or hundreds of kilowatts. 

Disruptive impact

Some companies and organizations are already making headwinds in WPT technology. In 2021, startup WiBotic’s two wireless robot charging systems have been granted safety certificates in Europe, according to the company’s CEO, who describes it as a major step forward. The chargers and transmitters now have CE Mark certification, which means they fulfill the European Union (EU) health and environmental protection requirements.

In addition, these systems meet the protocol of the EU’s International Electrotechnical Commission and Canada’s CSA (Canadian Standards Association) Group. WiBotic, created at the University of Washington in 2015, has designed battery charging systems that can automatically power up drones and robots on land or at sea. A power management software called Commander can optimize battery use for an entire fleet by working with the hardware. The company plans to create a power system to charge future robots on the Moon.

Meanwhile, in 2022, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) teamed up with Purdue University to develop the world’s first wireless charging concrete highway. The project will use cutting-edge magnetizable concrete—developed by German startup Magment GmbH—which allows electric vehicles to charge as they drive. The project’s first two phases involve pavement testing, analysis, and optimization research conducted by the Joint Transportation Research Program (JTRP) at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus. In the third phase, INDOT will construct a testbed measuring one-quarter of a mile to test the concrete’s power capacity for heavy trucks running at high wattage (200 kilowatts and up). If all three phases are completed successfully, INDOT plans on using this technology to electrify part of an interstate highway in Indiana.

Implications of wireless power transfer

Wider implications of wireless power transfer may include: 

• More cities funding WPT research to transform public infrastructure into wireless charging stations. This development can help people switch to electric vehicles.
• More startups developing long-distance WPT systems that can remotely charge devices and equipment in challenging locations, such as autonomous underwater vehicles.
• Manufacturers of cables and wires experiencing business contraction as more people, corporations, public infrastructure switch to wireless charging.
• More smart cities setting up public wireless charging stations for different devices to encourage interconnectivity and continuous data collection.
• The gradual replacement of traditional powerlines inside cities with dense networks of WPT transmission nodes (2050s).
• Increased sales in electric vehicles, particularly autonomous trucks used for last-mile deliveries, as WPT could support their 24/7 delivery activity.

Questions to consider

• If you are using WPT for your devices, what do you like most about it?
• How else can WPT change the way people use their devices?