Energy Focusing Metasurface Based Wireless Power Transfer System for Compact Unmanned Mobilities

Abstract In this paper, a metasurface based wireless power transfer system is proposed for compact unmanned mobilities. It comprises an electromagnetic (EM) wave focusing metasurface lens integrated patch antenna for improved EM wave reception and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor integrated circuit rectifier to convert received millimeter waves to direct coDC power source. Dynamic wireless power reception could be stably realized by exploiting the polarization independency and wider incident angle characteristics, even when a misalignment occurs between the transmitter and receiver antennas. Compared to the conventional patch array antenna structure, the main radiation pattern of the proposed metasurface structure shows noticeably wider angular coverages for both E‐ and H‐ planes, confirming the wider wireless power receiving capability even for oblique incident waves. Finally, to demonstrate the wireless power transfer capability of the proposed system, the metasurface based wireless power reception IC system is implemented on a miniaturized actuator system based on ionic elastomer mimicking a locomotive “bug,” confirming that the proposed concept holds promise potentially for a full‐scale, high power, longer range operation for powering small, unmanned vehicles.