I recently wrote an article about the shortcomings of current wireless charging devices, which covered the various inconveniences these platforms have on their consumers. Two of the most noteworthy flaws were the inability for wireless charging pads to simultaneously recharge more than one smartphone, and the limitations on distance that models for inductive pads currently impose.
Those issues may become a thing of a past with this prototype that Yank Technologies has developed. Known as the MotherBox, it is described as the first 3D inductive charging pad prototype. While it doesn’t require the usage of any cables or other tethered devices (or any physical contact for that matter), the MotherBox is also capable of charging more than one smartphone at once, whether it be an iPhone or Android. Charging a device simply requires connecting a receiver to your smartphone, and connecting to the MotherBox using a downloadable mobile app. You can freely roam about without enduring the degree of limitations imposed by tethers or wires, all the while your smartphone’s battery is being sufficiently charged.
“Technology today is like a sexy Ferrari that’s really low on gas. It’s beautiful and amazing, but limited in reaching its true potential,” says Yank Technologies CEO Josh Yank. “It doesn’t have to be this way, and we’re excited to finally showcase the MotherBox and help build the foundation for wire-free charging solutions in the years to come.”
The MotherBox comes in two sizes with the first having 6” x 6” x 6” dimensions, and the second model having 3.5” x 3.5” x 3.5” dimensions. The bigger of the two is better-suited for charging devices at home or your workplace, while the smaller device (known as the MotherBox Mini) has more portability, and can be taken on errands or trips. While the MotherBox doesn’t need tethers or cables, there are some limitations on how far your smartphone can be from the device before it ceases to charge. The larger of the two models has a charging range up to 20 feet, while the MotherBox Mini has a smaller range of 10 feet. Granted both devices charge a smartphone better the closer they are to the wireless pad, this is a better upgrade than current charging pad models that require direct physical contact for a device to charge, or can’t be more than a quarter the distance of the range the MotherBox offers.
While they aren’t entirely necessary, the MotherBox does include USB cables, along with receivers that a customer has a choice of picking based on the kind of smartphone they have. While the regular MotherBox needs to be connected to a power source, the MotherBox Mini contains a rechargeable battery that enables its portability feature. The mobile app offers many customizable options for your smartphone, like receiving notifications when the MotherBox is running low on battery life, or preferences on when you would like to charge your phone.
According to the MotherBox’s startup page, they’re looking to reach a $25K funding goal, and can be purchased for as little as $79. Based at the Columbia University Startup Lab, Yank Technologies was founded in 2013, and has partnered with Perkins Coie-an international law firm to officially patent their products. The MotherBox is the latest product prototype the company has completed that they hope is just the tip of the iceberg for them and this growing industry.
