Yank Technologies, developer of long-range, high power wireless charging ecosystems, has been awarded a U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant to develop novel wireless power systems for industrial applications.

With this grant, Yank Technologies is developing new wireless charging systems for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and similar robotic systems to further increase uptime, improve productivity, and reduce overhead costs at factories and fulfillment centers. These systems currently experience downtime when they need to be recharged outside of the assembly, production, or delivery routes.

Use of robotics in manufacturing is on the rise. In a recent study by Mordor Intelligence, the market is expected to reach a valuation of $53 billion by 2026, with a compounded annual growth rate of 14%. Additionally, the global smart factory market is expected to reach $389 billion by 2024 despite the pandemic.

NSF Grant Recipient for Automated Guided Vehicles Wireless Power Systems

The proposed technology delivers power through a distributed wireless charging network that can charge robotic systems dynamically or while in use, and is estimated to increase the uptime of AGVs and other robotic systems to nearly one hundred percent.

"With this grant, we are able to expand our wireless charging ecosystem into the industrial sector. By charging these robotic systems dynamically, we can significantly improve productivity and reduce overhead for fulfillment centers and factories around the world," said Josh Yank, CEO of Yank Technologies.

Yank Technologies' wireless charging solutions represent an important component in a larger initiative to shift the future of industrial systems and transportation toward more clean, equitable, and affordable technologies.