Spark Connected, which began life by offering in-cabin smartphone charging, has partnered with self-driving taxi operator AutoX to bring wirelessly powered sensors to the Chinese autonomous driving tech company’s L4 AVs. Texas-based Spark Connected offers a broad portfolio of innovative ready-to-use wireless power solutions, ranging from 1W to 2.4kW. It will provide its latest automotive grade Phoenix solution to wirelessly power the sensor suite fitted to AutoX’s autonomous vehicles.
“Spark Connected has always focused on wireless power technology that has a transformative impact on how we interact with devices as a society,” said Ruwanga Dassanayake, COO, Spark Connected. “Our deep domain expertise helps solve the most complex and challenging technical problems for our customers. Partnering with AutoX, the largest self-driving taxi fleet in Asia, has been an absolute pleasure. Their ground-breaking driverless technology platform, combined with Spark’s unique and advanced wireless power technology, allows AutoX to accelerate self-driving vehicles to the market.”
AutoX claims to be the first and only company in China to operate a fully driverless robotaxi service on public roads. In addition, AutoX has obtained the world’s second fully driverless permit from the California DMV. (Read an exclusive interview about its journey to date, here.)
“Spark Connected’s innovative and unique wireless power technology is key for us because it allows for a robust and durable power source with no mechanical connections,”added Dr Jewel Li, COO at AutoX. “The automotive grade Phoenix solution is in line with our high safety standards, while allowing us the flexibility of mechanical design and the reliability to deliver worry-free power to our vehicle sensors.”
The company’s patented hardware reference designs, combined with the highly scalable Pantheon software platform, allows end-to-end intelligent and adaptive power system control. Spark offers both inductive and resonant technologies.
