Hiroyuki Shinoda, Yasutoshi Makino, Naoshi Yamahira, and Hiroto Itai

Abstract:
This paper proposes a wireless power supply method to ubiquitous small robots using microwaves propagated in a two-dimensional waveguide (2DW). A robot working anywhere on a 2DW sheet receives the power from the sheet. The communication signal is also transmitted through the identical sheet. The structure of 2DW sheet is simple and realized with various materials at low cost. Since the microwave power is confined inside the 2DW sheet, it enables safe power transmission and communication without strong interference with the space outside the sheet.

Keywords: wireless power transmission, ubiquitous robot, ambient mechatronics, surface LAN, twodimensional communication