Battery-free autonomous robots

The robots have continuous power, which allows companies to run operations around the clock

Spotted: Stickers bring to mind brightly coloured children’s arts and crafts projects, not battery power. Yet it is with stickers that Israeli technology company CaPow runs Genesis, its perpetual power system for autonomous robots. Wireless energy-transmitting stickers placed around a workspace on the floor power robots that drive over them. Any excess power from each passing robot is stored in the robot for future use. 

CaPow’s internal receiver and power bank free up 90 per cent of the space that a traditional battery would use, reducing the weight of the robots as well as providing room for additional use options. To optimise the placement of the stickers, the company provides businesses with a floor planner tool to calculate the most efficient layouts.  

With no need to plug devices in to power them back up, there is no down time for companies, meaning that autonomous systems can run continuously. By reducing operational down time, businesses can buy and use the exact number of devices they need, rather than rely on back-ups for use when a primary device is being charged. The power provided by the Genesis system is strong enough for robots to cover significant distances between charges.  

The resulting increase in efficiency and reduction in energy use combine to provide organisations with substantial financial benefits, particularly as the system can be integrated with existing robotic processes. And the reduction in lithium battery use contributes to better environmental outcomes.  

CaPow recently closed a $7.5 million (around €7 million) round of seed funding. The company plans to use the financing to scale up the commercial availability of its system.  

Springwise has also spotted robots being used to improve swimming pool safety and monitor marine ecosystem health.

Written By: Keely Khoury