According to Professor Alanson Sample, an author of the Nature Electronics study, the technology could not only untether phones and laptops but also power implanted medical devices and raise new possibilities for mobile robotics in domestic and industrial spaces.
“This really ups the power of the ubiquitous computing world; you could put a computer in anything without ever having to worry about charging or plugging in,” said Sample. “There are a lot of clinical applications as well. Today’s heart implants, for example, require a wire that runs from the pump through the body to an external power supply. This could eliminate that, reducing the risk of infection and improving patients’ quality of life.”
The researchers have demonstrated the technology in a purpose-built aluminium test room measuring approximately 3m by 3m. Lamps, fans and phones were wirelessly powered in the room, drawing current from anywhere in the room regardless of the placement of...