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While big-dish antennas with high-power sources have been used
to demonstrate similar technology in the past, Chris Davlantes,
Reach founder and CEO said the recent development of high-power
antennas that can precisely focus beams of energy, and software
improvements for control have made it possible to create
effective wireless power transmission systems.
In a demonstration for Reuters, Davlantes connected a radio with
no batteries to an antenna-based wireless power receiver that
turned on the radio as far as 25 feet (7.6 meters) from the
power transmitter.
Asked about the safety of shooting stronger beams of
electricity, Dalvantes said the systems can detect objects and
switch off or route around them. "We always guarantee when
you're around one of our systems, you're getting exposure that
meets the same limits as all of the cellphones," he said.
Reach has signed a contract with the U.S. Defense Department for
prototypes that can combine multiple energy-beaming modules for
stronger power transmission or longer ranges, he said.
Reach has also designed a power chip that can emit and receive
waves carrying electricity that will be used in commercial
products the company plans to ship in the first quarter. Initial
customers include manufacturers and logistics companies using
robots and autonomous vehicles.
"Reach will do for power what Wi-Fi did for access to the
Internet - cut the cord," said Matt Ocko, co-founder of DCVC,
which led this round of funding. He said there are a handful of
other startups in the field but none can match Reach's
"combination of power, distance, scalability, power efficiency,
safety and cost-effectiveness.”
(Reporting By Jane Lanhee Lee in Redwood City; Editing by
William Mallard)
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