The system comprises just two components; an access point (a router), and custom-built sensors.
Those are two important distinctions.
AsPopular Sciencenotes,Energousalready sells a equipment that transmits power through the air through RF signals.
It requires entirely new, dedicated hardware, though, and loses the Wi-Fi aspect.
The UW research, meanwhile, can coexist with traditional WiFi routers, pushing both data and energy simultaneously.
Or, more accurately, efficiently harnessing the energy that your router already puts out.
But the UW team came up with a clever workaround to verify neither charging nor connectivity goes sideways.
That allows us to deliver about the same amount of power without impacting any one channel very much.
If those applications seem a little small-fry, dont blame them.
Should those restrictions loosen, you could start to see far more robust applications.
Its worth noting both that the router model they used is several years old, and ultimately inconsequential.
It could just as easily be the router in your office right now.
While they dont have any deals in place currently, the team is actively exploring the possibility.
The work weve published, you could think of it as the first proof of concept, says Talla.
But its by no means the optimal solution.
Were actively working to make it better.
source: www.techworm.net
