Is broadcast power suitable for recharging robots?

The last time I checked ASIMO's battery pack only had enough juice for something like 30 minutes of continuous operation & then it has to plug in & recharge which isn't really that useful.

I'd like my free range robots to have a little more up-time, somewhat less down-time & not have to worry so much about staying close to a suitable power socket.

So taking a page out of (the original box set) Gamma World's book I'm thinking of broadcast power.

The requirements

• The transmission must be omnidirectional.

• Transmitting antennas of (at most) similar size to a commercial radio station antenna.

• Receiving antennas of 1 foot or less.

• Safe for people to live inside the area served (so microwave frequencies are probably out).

• Sufficient power to charge at the very least a car battery over a period of hours.

Assuming a suitable frequency is given over to this & ignoring existing international agreements & national laws regarding radio transmissions.

• Could a suitably small* Rectenna (assuming a suitable broadcast facility within range) provide suitable power levels to recharge a humanoid robot like ASIMO.

A subsidiary question would be what sort of range would a transmitter have within which adequate power would be received.

*We want some space for a battery as well so up to half the size of ASIMO's current battery.

posted almost 6 years ago

Pelinore‭

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