Futuristic cityscape with devices charging wirelessly.

Cut the Cord: How Wireless Power is About to Revolutionize Your Life

Mira Elwood in Tech & Innovation August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Reconfigurable RF energy harvesting is making wireless power transfer more efficient and accessible than ever before, paving the way for a truly wireless future."

For years, the promise of wireless power has lingered on the horizon. The idea of devices charging without being tethered to an outlet seemed like something straight out of science fiction. Now, thanks to innovative research and development, that future is rapidly approaching.

The internet of things (IoT) is here, and wireless sensor networks are at its heart. But these sensors need power to function. Batteries have limitations, especially when the goal is a low-power design that maximizes battery life. The solution? Radio Frequency (RF) energy harvesting, where energy is drawn from radio waves in the environment to power devices.

Now, researchers are combining RF energy harvesting with Wireless Power Receivers (WPR) to create systems that are both efficient and flexible. This powerful combination means we could soon see a world where our devices are always charged, no matter where we are.

The Science Behind the Wireless Revolution

Futuristic cityscape with devices charging wirelessly.

At the heart of this revolution is a technology called reconfigurable RF energy harvesting. This system captures radio waves, converts them into electricity, and stores that energy to power devices. To maximize efficiency, these systems use a technique called Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT). MPPT ensures that the system always operates at its peak efficiency, no matter the input power level.

One particularly promising approach involves combining RF energy harvesting with Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) Wireless Power Receivers (WPR). A4WP is a wireless power transfer standard that uses magnetic resonance to transfer power over a distance. By merging RF energy harvesting with A4WP, devices can receive power from multiple sources, ensuring continuous operation.

Key features of these advanced systems include:

Reconfigurable RF-DC Converter: Adapts to varying input power levels for optimal efficiency.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT): Ensures peak performance across a wide range of power levels.
Open Loop Delay Compensation (OLDC): Improves power conversion efficiency by compensating for delays in the system.

To compensate for delays that can reduce efficiency, researchers are using a technique called Open Loop Delay Compensation (OLDC). OLDC corrects for timing differences between voltage and current in the system, resulting in a significant boost in power conversion efficiency (PCE). In tests, systems using OLDC have achieved peak PCEs of up to 82.14% in A4WP mode.

The Future is Wireless

These advances in wireless power technology are poised to transform numerous aspects of our lives, from personal electronics to industrial applications. Imagine smartphones, tablets, and laptops that charge automatically as you enter a room. Envision sensors and IoT devices that operate continuously without the need for battery replacements. This is the promise of reconfigurable RF energy harvesting, and it's closer than you think.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1109/tpel.2018.2872563, Alternate LINK

Title: A -20 To 30 Dbm Input Power Range Wireless Power System With A Mppt-Based Reconfigurable 48% Efficient Rf Energy Harvester And 82% Efficient A4Wp Wireless Power Receiver With Open-Loop Delay Compensation

Subject: Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics

Publisher: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Authors: Sang-Yun Kim, Hamed Abbasizadeh, Behnam Samadpoor Rikan, Seong Jin Oh, Byeong Gi Jang, Young-Jun Park, Danial Khan, Truong Thi Kim Nga, Kyung Tae Kang, Young Gun Pu, Sang-Sun Yoo, Sungho Lee, Sung-Chul Lee, Minjae Lee, Keum Cheol Hwang, Youngoo Yang, Kang-Yoon Lee

Published: 2019-07-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is reconfigurable RF energy harvesting, and why is it a significant advancement?

Reconfigurable RF energy harvesting is a technology that captures radio waves from the environment, converts them into electricity, and stores that energy to power devices wirelessly. It is significant because it aims to provide a continuous power source for devices by drawing energy from ambient radio waves, reducing reliance on batteries and wired connections.

How does Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) enhance the efficiency of wireless power transfer, and what other techniques complement it?

Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) is a technique used in reconfigurable RF energy harvesting systems to ensure they operate at peak efficiency, regardless of the input power level. By continuously adjusting the system's operating point to maximize power extraction from the available radio waves, MPPT optimizes the overall energy harvesting process, making the system more effective in varying environmental conditions. While not mentioned explicitly, impedance matching networks are also crucial for efficient power transfer. They work by minimizing signal reflections and maximizing the power delivered to the load, enhancing the performance of the energy harvesting system.

What role does Open Loop Delay Compensation (OLDC) play in boosting power conversion efficiency in wireless power systems?

Open Loop Delay Compensation (OLDC) improves power conversion efficiency (PCE) in wireless power systems by correcting timing differences between voltage and current. By compensating for these delays, OLDC ensures that the system operates more efficiently, resulting in a significant boost in PCE. This is crucial for optimizing the performance of wireless power transfer systems. In tests, systems using OLDC have achieved peak PCEs of up to 82.14% in A4WP mode.

How does Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) contribute to the advancement of wireless power technology?

Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) is a wireless power transfer standard that uses magnetic resonance to transfer power over a distance. Combining RF energy harvesting with A4WP Wireless Power Receivers (WPR) allows devices to receive power from multiple sources, ensuring continuous operation. This integration enables devices to be charged from both ambient radio waves and dedicated A4WP charging sources, improving their overall power autonomy.

What are the broader implications of combining reconfigurable RF energy harvesting with other technologies like MPPT, OLDC, and A4WP on our daily lives and technology use?

The combination of reconfigurable RF energy harvesting, Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), Open Loop Delay Compensation (OLDC), and Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) could lead to the pervasive integration of wireless power in everyday devices. This could result in smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices that charge automatically in a room. The reliance on traditional power cords and batteries could diminish, leading to more convenient and sustainable technology use. From industrial sensors to wearable devices, the impact could be far-reaching, promoting energy efficiency and reducing electronic waste.