US-based company WiTricity is aiming to mass produce its technology and successful rollout would mean users can charge any mobile device by simply walking into a room.
WiTricity was announced as one of the newly-funded companies by Intel at the annual Intel Capital CEO Summit in San Diego, California.
WiTricity CEO Eric Giler explained that the Company’s product is currently undergoing five phases of testing, which includes classified military applications. There is also non-classified testing in the works.
“The testing on non-classified systems includes robots that will be powered up by our technology. We have also been working on charging mats for Toyota’s Prius electric cars, as the cars will just drive on them and be charged,” Giler told ITNewsAfrica in a panel discussion.
He insisted that the technology is definitely here to stay and that it could revolutionise the power industry. Asked when he expects the technology to be commercially available, Giler added that the “technology is here and now”, and explained how the Company also produces charging mats that can be placed under a table to charge multiple devices at once.
“One day you can just imagine that all laptops and phones will be charged without wires, and that is what WiTricity is all about – it’s wireless electricity,” he said.
“WiTricity is working to make this future a reality, developing wireless electricity technology that will operate safely and efficiently over distances ranging from centimeters to several meters—and will deliver power ranging from milliwatts to kilowatts,” the company states on their website.
The company’s vision is “to develop a family of wireless electric power components that will enable OEM’s in a broad range of industries and applications to make their products truly “wireless.” Wireless electric power delivered over room scale distances and with high efficiency. Wireless electric power that is safe for people and animals.”
According to Intel, “The company was founded in 2007 to commercialize technology for wireless electricity. With a growing list of global clients in industries including consumer electronics, automotive, medical devices and defense, WiTricity has emerged as a leading expert in highly resonant wireless power transfer.”
Intel Capital has announced investments in 16 new technology companies totaling $65 million. Spanning nine countries, the investments will help drive innovations in cloud, datacenter, mobile technologies and consumer-related services.
The new investments are part of Intel Capital’s mission of cultivating global innovation by providing entrepreneurs with the resources necessary to scale from startup to global corporation level.
Designed to create growth opportunities for Intel Capital portfolio companies through structured networking, the Intel Capital Global Summit includes a full agenda of keynote presentations, expert panels and more than 2,000 targeted meetings between portfolio company CEOs and key business executives. Portfolio companies attending past Global Summits have gone on to sign business deals with leading corporations across a wide range of industries.
“The annual Intel Capital Global Summit brings together our vast worldwide network of decision-making Fortune 1000 executives with our portfolio company CEOs to network, exchange ideas and kick start partnerships and business deals,” said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president. “We are also excited to announce new investments in these 16 innovative companies and look forward to supporting them with our unmatched company-building programs like the Intel Capital Technology Days.”
Charlie Fripp – Consumer Tech editor
