What just happened? Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's School of Computer Science have introduced a breakthrough technology that could transform the way wearable devices are powered. Called "Power-Over-Skin," this innovation allows electricity to travel through the human body, potentially eliminating the need for traditional batteries in a wide range of wearable tech. The technology addresses a longstanding challenge in the wearable device industry. From continuous glucose monitors for diabetes management to pacemakers and fitness trackers, these devices rely on batteries that require regular charging and maintenance.Andy Kong, a leading member of the research team, explains that Power-Over-Skin aims to remove this obstacle by enabling devices to operate seamlessly and discreetly an essential factor for effective health monitoring.Still in its early stages, the technology employs a single battery-powered transmitter worn on the body to deliver power to various receivers. During testing, the researchers successfully powered small objects, including LED lights, a Bluetooth joystick embedded in a ring, and a light-up earring. They found that the power received by these devices was directly proportional to their distance from the transmitter, with closer devices receiving more power.Kong compares the process to how a radio uses air as a medium to transmit signals between a broadcasting station and a car stereo, with the key difference being that Power-Over-Skin uses body tissue as the transmitting medium. The researchers focused on maximizing power transmission efficiency through the body, discovering that square waves delivered significantly more power than the sine waves used in earlier experiments.The technology operates through capacitive coupling at 40 MHz RF energy, enabling safe and efficient power transfer through the skin. This approach allows continuous power delivery directly from a source on the body to multiple wearable devices. // Related StoriesWhile the current demonstrations focus on low-power electronics, the researchers envision future applications powering more energy-intensive devices like smart glasses and advanced wearables. To achieve this, the team is working to increase the power output by a factor of 10, with the ultimate goal of powering devices such as earbuds.