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A scientist from the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is contributing to a research project on “High-Frequency, High-Power and High-Efficiency Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) Technologies.” This project, receiving HK$28.36 million from the Research Grants Council’s (RGC) Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS), aims to advance sustainable technologies and reinforce Hong Kong’s leadership in WPT innovation and technology.
Wireless charging pads are now ubiquitous in locations such as airports, railways, cars, and restaurants. The global wireless charging standard, “Qi,” established by the Wireless Power Consortium, has greatly benefited from CityUHK’s patented wireless charging technology. The development of the Qi standard has propelled wireless charging technology for smartphones, while the rising demand for the Internet of Things (IoT) has further spurred the industry. As early as 2018, CityUHK introduced a technology allowing multiple mobile devices to charge simultaneously on a single plate, which generated substantial licensing revenue. Market research forecasts predict the global wireless power transmission market will reach US$35 billion by 2030.
Traditionally, WPT power levels decrease with higher operating frequencies. To enhance system efficiency, the industry is exploring Megahertz (MHz) operations. The collaborative research project, co-investigated by Professor Alex Wong Man Hon from CityUHK’s Department of Electrical Engineering, targets the major technical challenges in MHz operations. Professor Wong’s role involves developing an electromagnetic “defensive shield” using metasurface technology to innovatively enclose the magnetic field during wireless power transfer.
This metasurface technology can create an electromagnetic defensive shield to block energy and radiation during the wireless power transfer process, protecting humans from electromagnetic exposure. This shield does not interfere with the resonator; instead, an intelligent co-design could enhance wireless charging efficiency through synergistic effects.
The project aims to develop new WPT technologies in the high-power range of 100W to 1kW and high-frequency range from 1MHz to 13.56MHz, with efficiency exceeding 95%. These advancements will introduce new wireless charging technologies and standards applicable to laptops, drones, e-bikes, electric wheelchairs, and mobile robots.
The TRS supports UGC-funded universities working on themes strategically important for Hong Kong’s long-term development. The project includes a CityUHK faculty member and both local and international collaborators. The Project Coordinator is Professor Ron Hui Shu-yuen, Chair Professor of Power Electronics at the University of Hong Kong. Professor Hui, who previously pioneered planar WPT technology that led to the Qi standard, is leading the effort.
CityUHK is also involved in two other TRS-funded projects: “Enhancing Hong Kong’s Role in Sustainable Supply Chain Finance via Technology Transformation” and “Mechanisms and Key Technologies of Multi-Sensory Emulation Wearable Devices.” Additionally, CityUHK is part of a research team working on the “AI-Powered Surgical Robots” project, funded with HK$96.80 million under the RGC’s Areas of Excellence (AoE) Scheme. Led by Professor Yunhui Liu from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), this interdisciplinary team from CUHK, CityUHK, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University aims to develop advanced AI-powered surgical robots.
These robots will possess high autonomy, enabling them to sense and understand surgical environments, conduct surgical planning and navigation, learn skills from expert surgeons, and autonomously perform surgeries on soft tissues and organs in complex, dynamic conditions. Clinical experiments will validate the technology through urological procedures.
The AoE Scheme supports UGC-funded universities in developing their strengths into recognised areas of excellence.
