Goodbye, tangled cords - hello, SmartPowerBox

Imagine a world where you could just open a drawer and charge your phone and other devices. No plugs, no cords, just clean and tidy charging. No more cries of, ‘who took my charger’?

Professor Aiguo Patrick Hu and research fellow Dr Saidul Alam Chowdhury are leading the technical design and prototype development for just such an invention: it’s called the SmartPowerBox.

They're part of the Innovative Wireless Power Research Lab in the Department of Electrical, Computer and Software Engineering, and aim to create the world’s first volumetric wireless charging platform.

It’s a system that can power multiple electronic devices anywhere inside a small 3D space, such as a desk drawer or bedside table, without needing precise placement on a charging pad. Simply put your phone, earbuds or smartwatch inside the drawer and it will charge automatically.

"SmartPowerBox uses a network of thin, flat coils hidden within furniture surfaces to create a safe electromagnetic field that delivers power through the air," says Chowdhury.

"Advanced power electronics automatically detect the devices inside, adjust energy flow, and control electromagnetic emissions to ensure safety and efficiency.

"Unlike traditional chargers that require alignment with a single pad, this system distributes energy evenly in three dimensions, enabling true free-positioning wireless power."

The pair say there’s a gap in the field of 3D wireless power transfer, so they’re turning a lab concept into a practical solution for homes, offices and healthcare environments.

"Current wireless charging technologies only work when a device is placed in a specific position, which limits convenience and scalability," says Chowdhury.

"Our goal is to eliminate these restrictions and make charging completely seamless – similar to how Wi-Fi delivers internet wirelessly throughout a room."

They say SmartPowerBox could transform how people power their devices in daily life, meaning no more messy cables – devices will simply charge anywhere within a drawer or desk. It could have wider uses too, such as in health care where clutter-free, hygienic charging zones can be created where multiple tools and sensors can operate simultaneously.

In the long term, this method could pave the way for wireless charging furniture or integrated charging zones in smart homes, offices and hospitals.

As far as power usage goes, the SmartPowerBox is energy-aware.

"It’s not continuously 'on'. Instead, it intelligently detects when a device needs charging, activates only the necessary components, and stays in a safe off-power state otherwise," says Chowdhury.

The idea originated from a simple daily frustration - the constant need to perfectly align devices on small charging pads.

"As researchers working in wireless power technology, we asked: why can’t charging be as effortless as Wi-Fi?"

That question sparked the vision for a 'wireless energy zone'; a drawer or tabletop that automatically powers anything placed inside it.

"Our background in high-frequency resonant power systems and EMI-safe design helped us realise that this vision could be made practical with smart coil geometry, adaptive control and efficient inverter technology."

The research has received $114,000 from the Warwick and Judy Smith Engineering Endowment Fund, administered through the University of Auckland Foundation, which will help support the prototype. Future collaboration is expected with international partners and industry through UniServices for patenting and commercialisation.