Originally posted in Autocar Pro News Desk, July 31, 2020
Toyoda Gosei Co, a Toyota Group company, has concluded a joint development agreement with Ossia Inc, a U.S. start-up that leads the world in the field of wireless power solutions. The two companies will work to apply wireless power technology in vehicle cabins, smart cities, and more.
The Toyoda Gosei Group is a leading global manufacturer of rubber and plastic automotive components, safety systems, and LEDs. It has a network of 64 group companies in 17 countries and regions.
Banking on open innovation
In recent years, Toyoda Gosei has focused increasingly on innovations that leverage its core technologies in order to achieve sustainable growth during a time of great upheaval in the automotive industry. With the aim of pioneering new businesses and adapting automotive products for CASE/MaaS technologies, the company says it is accelerating open innovation by partnering with start-ups and research institutes that promise synergy with its key strengths. In one such effort, it has been developing wireless power technology since 2014. That led in 2018 to the launch of the world’s first automotive interior equipped with LEDs that are wirelessly powered based on magnetic resonant coupling.
World-first Cota Real Wireless Power
Ossia, founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, is dedicated to improving and advancing daily living through the worldwide supply of Cota Real Wireless Power, the company’s patented technology designed to deliver power over air without cables. This world-first technology employs microwaves and simultaneously powers multiple devices at distances of several metres. The technology received a CES 2019 Innovation Award, and is recognised globally.
Toyoda Gosei began collaborating with Ossia through an initial corporate venture capital investment in September 2019.
Features of Cota tech
Efficient power transmission: Selectively powers devices with directional microwaves. Microwaves follow the movement of receiving devices.
Secure transmission: Selectively powers authenticated devices.
Safe for humans: Microwaves follow the path of signals that go around the human body.
