Charge your smartphone with a Wi-Fi router? Possible with a firmware update

Through the use of distinct channels of the wireless router, you can upload your own smartphone without affecting the performance of the network connection. This is the assumption of a new project of the University of Washington.

A group of researchers at the University of Washington have discovered a new technology that will allow a traditional Wi-Fi router to charge the battery more mobile devices without compromising the performance of the network connection. The wireless charging cover a radius of about 8.5 meters, but it seems that there is still much work to do – and subsequent tests to be completed – before it can become public knowledge.

The whole process takes only a router and a number of sensors, which are needed to convert the radio frequency into the electrical current. In addition, the router must be updated side software with a specific firmware, capable of processing separately the sending of electric current and that of radio frequencies, in such a way that the two functionalities do not interfere with one another threatening the performance of the free.

Researchers installed six configurations in as many homes using the router ASUS RT-AC68U to carry out the first tests on the technology. It is a model not just recent through a simple software upgrade is able to charge the battery from an external device while continuing to offer its services from the traditional wireless router, connecting devices in the home network.

With changes made specially any router may be able to provide the charge. It is also very interesting that no tester has found declines in network performance during charging: ” If we wanted to get all the power available, this would have serious repercussions on the performance of Wi-Fi, ” said Bryce Kellogg, one of the architects the study.

Then observing: ” Instead, we optimized the router in order to provide constant power to the sensor without impacting too much on the network. ” Researchers have used three different channels and not overlapped, so as to provide the same amount of energy without saturating the capacity of the individual channel. The University has already found a partner to further develop the technology and transform it into a consumer product.

A product of this type is already in effect, and has been shown in operation at the last CES in Las Vegas. Energous WattUp, It is a wireless router that has the sole task of loading the mobile device, and it can simultaneously send data to connected devices. Among the limitations, we are also a power output not exactly exemplary, below the single watt if you exceed 5 meters.

What the University of Washington seems a very ambitious project, especially because it allows you to use virtually any router on the market to charge your smartphone, with a truly wireless solution and does not require the use of accessories to be put in contact with the device. Its marketing could not get in a short time.