Here at SnapMunk, we’ve covered innovative charging technologies quite a bit. Although useful, the primary limitation of current wireless (inductive) chargers is that they need to be in very close proximity to the charging hub to be effective. Not sure what we’re talking about? Think about those plastic rings at Starbucks people leave on the tables. That’s inductive charging in action.
The team at Yank Technologies, a startup headquartered in Columbia University’s startup lab is looking to shake up the electronics space a bit with a device known as MotherBox.
Unlike traditional inductive chargers which require contact between the receiver and power source, MotherBox is designed to wirelessly send power up to 20 inches away from the device. To use MotherBox, users only have to download a companion Android/iOS mobile app and place a thin receiver on their electronics. MotherBox supports charging three to four devices at a time while MotherBox Mini supports charging one to two devices at a time. The former has a range of 20 inches while the latter has a range of 10 inches.
The device works by using a pattern of antennas known as three-dimensional phase coil arrays. These antennas evenly distribute power across a 3-D circular area which makes it possible for the device to beam electricity when a device is in the field’s radius.
For those wondering where the name MotherBox came from, it’s inspired by a device in DC Comics (Superman, Batman, etc.) which is a sentient computer capable of transporting beings and energy from one point in space to another.
MotherBox has a weight of three to four pounds while MotherBox mini is estimated to weigh two to three pounds. The MotherBox measures at approximately 6″ x 6″ x 6″ and has a charging distance of approximately 20 inches. For portable charging, The MotherBox Mini measures at approximately 3.5″ x 3.5″ x 3.5″ with a charging distance of approximately 10 inches.
It’s worth noting that MotherBox does not have a built-in rechargeable battery and must be connected to an outlet. The MotherBox Mini, on the other hand, will have at least a 7,000 mAH battery. Both devices are not waterproof or water resistant.
For those concerned about safety, MotherBox technology is based on the same principles as many charging pads – through magnetic resonance. In terms of radiation levels, MotherBox has a Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) of 0.01 W/kg while the iPhone 7 is at 1.1 W/kg. The official FCC limits on radiation are 1.6 W/kg.
So far the company has raised over $30,000, and there’s an estimated shipping date of September 2017. Early bird pricing for MotherBox starts at $79 while early bird pricing for the MotherBox Mini is $89.
Charles Costa is a marketing specialist helping technology companies grow, one word at a time. You can learn more at CharlesCosta.net
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I really thought that wireless charging was not going to really be a thing. It seems there are more products these days for that. Interesting.
Conference room = larger option.
Personal desk or at work = smaller option.
Pretty simple if you ask me.
You got that right!
Just about everything you can get that is smartphone related is waterproof to some degree. It is a little bit of a turn off that the MotherBox does not keep the water away, but maybe for this application that just does not work?
Yeah I agree with this statement!
This is one of the best wireless charging devices that I have seen so far. Some are just not practical and others require you to have more than one battery to charge and that just does not make sense.
I agree. I have seen quite a bit of wireless charging devices and have only purchased 2 at this point. I have not been happy with either one of them and think I might give this a try.
At first I was turned off by the information that you would have to have the MotherBox plugged into an outlet, BUT then when I think about have ONE less battery to monitor, I like the idea.
This is the type of product that makes sense when you are in a conference room filled with other people that have smartphones. Just throw them all on the table and everyone is getting a little bit of a charge. Pretty unique, plus the campaign was actually funded, so that is cool.
That price is not that bad when you think about charging more than one device. I would take a look at it for a place like work.
This is really getting out of hand. It is amazing how the technology that goes into something like wireless charging can evolve in so many ways.
Ideally this is the best option if you have more than one device to charge at a time. Thanks for the heads up on the fundraiser.
I would have thought that more information was given about the distance from the charger. This is pretty cool and if your phone has the feature for wireless charging, then you should be able to hook up to one of these very easily
I really like the innovation here. I only have one curiosity about wireless charging. Why? What is so hard about using a cord and there is no way that it can possibly be as fast, right?