Sample said that that in addition to untethering phones and laptops, the technology could also power implanted medical devices and open new possibilities for mobile robotics in homes and manufacturing facilities.
A team led by University of Tokyo researchers demonstrated the technology in a purpose-built aluminum test room measuring approximately 10 feet by 10 feet.
The room wirelessly powered lamps, fans and cell phones that could draw current from anywhere within the floorplan, regardless of placement of people and objects.
The system is billed as a gigantic improvement over previous attempts at wireless charging systems, which emitted potentially harmful microwave radiation and/or required devices to be placed on dedicated charging pads, the researchers said.
Instead, the developed system employs a conductive surface on room walls and uses a conductive pole to generate magnetic fields.
As further noted by Michigan News:
Devices harness the magnetic field with wire coils, which can be integrated into electronics like cell phones. The researchers say the system could easily be scaled up to larger structures like factories or warehouses while still meeting existing safety guidelines for exposure to electromagnetic fields.
Takuya Sasatani, a researcher at the University of Tokyo and the corresponding author on the study, explained, “Something like this would be easiest to implement in new construction, but I think retrofits will be possible as well. Some commercial buildings, for example, already have metal support poles, and it should be possible to spray a conductive surface onto walls, perhaps similar to how textured ceilings are done.”
