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Edinburgh / Pittsburgh, 21 June 2022. – Moon company Astrobotic and wireless charging platform developer WiBotic successfully demonstrated that their wireless charging system can function and provide enough power to survive the 14-Earth-day-long lunar night. Developed with assistance from Bosch, the University of Washington, and the NASA Glenn Research Center, the system has previously passed regolith simulant testing as well.
The latest test aimed to demonstrate that the chargers were ready to distribute power on the Moon’s surface. The lightweight system was able to transmit power in extreme hot and cold lunar temperatures at 80-85% total system efficiency. The analysis and final report claim that the wireless system out-performed its requirements.
The system is planned to deliver power from a lunar lander or Vertical Solar Array Technology (VSAT) to power rovers, habitats, and other infrastructure. WiBotic’s transmitter circuit will convert the power from the source to wireless power, sent to the device by an antenna coil. As the transmitter coil has to be located outside the lander for accessibility reasons, it will be exposed to lunar temperatures ranging from -118 to 104 degrees Celsius.
Astrobotic says it is already offering the system for commercial purchase in 125W and 400W configurations.
