Archos and Ossia plan wireless charging over the air

  • November 22, 2021
  • Steve Rogerson

Following EU approval of wireless power delivery over the air and at any distance, French electronics company Archos says it will integrate US firm Ossia’s Cota real wireless power system in consumer products by next year.

Cota delivers power over-the-air, at a distance, and without the need for line of sight. Washington-based Ossia says it is changing the world with wireless power by untethering devices from cords and reducing or eliminating batteries.

Positioned as a global standard for wireless power at a distance, Ossia’s Cota technology could soon be in every home, office, car, store and place, offering freedom of device placement, device innovation and the elimination of battery anxiety for personal devices. The wireless power system is said to reduce the carbon footprint being proliferated by an influx of devices needing wiring and large, costly batteries.

Archos will be offering products used every day, at home or in mobility, for which permanent charge is a must, such as indoor wireless cameras. For security or peace of mind, consumers will be able to place this camera discretely anywhere in the home, without cable to install and without the worry of keeping it charged.

An air quality and temperature station will let consumers know the air quality and temperature in any room. It will remain charged at all times, no matter if it is moved from one room to another or where the station is in the home.

Easily clipped on any pet’s necklace or in any bag, a smart tracker will automatically be located and wirelessly charged enough to get a few days of autonomy.

With battery autonomy quickly becoming the priority for users, a smart watch, equipped with GPS, pedometer, ECG, blood pressure, sleep quality, SOS and so on, can integrate power over the air and never need to charge via a cable.

Each product will be Cota-enabled to receive power over the air at a distance, without the need for user intervention, wires, batteries or charging pads. The Cota system was selected by Archos because of its ability to track a device automatically to send and receive information without the use of complex algorithms or the need to shut down when the path of delivery is interrupted, and for its ability to send RF-based power while avoiding people and pets.

Archos and Ossia plan to showcase the Cota-enabled devices at January’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

“This is the first time the general public will be able to experience the convenience and efficiency of wirelessly powered devices.” said Loic Poirier, CEO of Archos. “After much research, we have determined that Ossia’s Cota is best in class, and the only technology that can work safely and effectively for advanced consumer IoT applications. This working partnership is a revolutionary step for consumer electronics, and the products we have planned for launch are only the beginning.”

Archos has started creating plans to design, integrate and build Cota-enabled consumer products. Once completed, it will begin commercial product development of Cota-enabled devices with the 5.8GHz Cota system for target release in 2022. Early showcases of this product development will be available at CES as well as a media event in Paris targeted for early 2022.

“As a leader of electronics innovation in the European market and beyond, Archos is a natural working partner to bring Cota-enabled products to consumers,” said Doug Stovall, CEO of Ossia. “Product innovation, especially with smart home devices and other IoT, has been severely limited by the constraints of batteries, wired charging pads and charging down time. Cota real wireless power is the only way to not only decrease our environmental footprint, but to also enable the next wave of smart and connected consumer products, as well as commercial IoT with its billions of sensors.”

With headquarters in France, and offices in Europe and Asia, Archos is a pan-European player in the consumer IoT space. Ossia, with headquarters in Washington state, is certified to license its flagship Cota technology in the USA, UK, Europe and most recently in Australia and New Zealand.