Motorola Air Charging is here, and to leave you with absolutely no doubt at all, it is indeed what its name suggests – charging of phones through nothing but thin air. While the idea behind the technology has been around for a while, and concept demonstrations of the futuristic technology have also been showcased every now and then, this is one of the first times that a mainstream brand has showcased the technology so publicly – hence sparking off anticipation surrounding a commercial launch.
As for the technology itself, Motorola Air Charge works through a central platform, which resembles an older generation Wi-Fi router of sorts. While the tech has not yet been detailed, this device is clearly the centrepiece that dissipates electric charge through air. As is known about the principles of conduction of electricity through air, Motorola Air Charge also works within a certain field range – 3m (or approximately 10 feet) in this case. The devices being charged will need to be within 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37.8 degrees Celsius, in order for Motorola Air Charge to be functional.
If these criteria are met, then the air charging platform will be able to charge up to four simultaneous devices at up to 5W speeds. This is, of course, a pre-commercial version of the technology, so the charging specifications aren’t exactly through the roof. However, it is a clear proof of concept that this may very well be a viable technology in future. Motorola has further stated that while Air Charging will work through sheets of paper, leather and other such everyday obstacles, it will have some sort of a biological sensor onboard, which will cause the wireless charging standard to stop if the charger detects a human body in between the target smartphone.
The charger itself reportedly uses 1,600 antennae to scan for compatible devices, and has a proprietary network setup powered by a custom chipset and the necessary algorithms, to deliver stable and secure charging to phones through the air. This can clearly facilitate truly wireless charging, but whether it has any possible downsides, such as collateral harm to the human body, are not known yet. It’s also yet to be announced as to when would this tech be presented in commercial, usable form.
