By Eric Cohen, Marketing Manager
In August, WiTricity CMO, Amy Barzdukas, wrote a blog post, “Myths About Wireless Charging.” It drew a lot of attention because, like many new technologies, there are many myths surrounding wireless charging for electric vehicles – is it real, is it efficient, and does it work?
The answer to all three is an unequivocal, “YES!”
While that blog post was focused on wireless charging for EVs, wireless power transfer built on the same magnetic resonance technology has been successfully deployed around the world in a number of industries for a variety of uses. Wireless charging for EVs is just the latest in a long list of using cleaner, safer, and more efficient technology to get the job done.
Delta Electronics, one of WiTricity’s licensees, is proving that out. Delta realized that with wireless charging, its customers would no longer have to worry about electrical plugs for autonomous and semi-autonomous robotics. By moving to wireless charging there’s no plug to arc or spark, so it reduces fire risk. In addition, wireless means lower maintenance with no worn-out plugs that need replacing. And more importantly, wireless charging provides opportunity charging—or charging while also on the job—for autonomous robots, forklifts, and automated guide vehicles (AGVs).
We’ve just published a case study about how Delta is using our wireless charging technology in a variety of interesting ways. I won’t spoil the surprise – but I think the wildest solution I’ve heard is the agricultural community using wireless charging for barn cleaning and cow feeding robots, reducing their overall costs since they no longer have to worry about barn mice eating the charging cords!
Delta is proving out the case for autonomy: it’s not too big of a stretch to see how industrial robots that can charge themselves leads to cars that can charge themselves, too. Read the case study to get a taste of that future.
