Willo Unveils Wireless Power That Frees Devices From Alignment

HELSINKI and LAS VEGAS – January 08, 2026 – After operating in stealth for nearly two years, European deep-tech company Willo Technologies has publicly unveiled a breakthrough in wireless power that promises to solve one of the field's most persistent challenges: the need for precise alignment. The company is demonstrating a working system that delivers power over the air to devices while they are in motion, rotating freely through 360 degrees, and completely misaligned with the power source.

This development, showcased in private demonstrations, moves beyond the limitations of current technology, which largely relies on charging pads, restrictive coils, or direct line-of-sight beaming. By creating what appears to be a localized field of energy, Willo's system allows multiple devices to draw power simply by being within its range, a capability that could fundamentally reshape industries reliant on mobile electronics.

"Most wireless power systems depend on alignment or directionality," said Dr. Nam Ha-Van, co-founder and CTO of Willo, in the company's announcement. "The hard part isn't making power wireless, it's keeping it working as devices move and rotate. That's what our system is designed to handle."

A New Paradigm for Power

The promise of a truly wireless world has long been hampered by physics. Near-field technologies, such as the inductive charging used in smartphones and electric toothbrushes, require devices to be placed in a specific spot, often within millimeters of a charging coil. Far-field technologies, which use radio frequency (RF) or microwave beams to send power over greater distances, typically demand a clear line-of-sight and for the transmitter to be aimed at the receiver, limiting mobility.

Willo's technology appears to chart a third course. While the company has not disclosed the precise scientific principles, demonstrations at CES 2026 show devices charging within a radius of approximately 15 inches from a transmitter, without any need for targeting or static positioning. This suggests a novel approach to managing electromagnetic fields that creates a consistent power zone, rather than a directional beam. The innovation is rooted in over a decade of research by Dr. Ha-Van, whose past academic work has explored suppressing radiation resistance to achieve high power-transfer efficiency even with significant antenna separation.

This capability directly addresses a core limitation that has kept physical cables as the default power source for complex machinery. The company is deliberate in managing expectations, emphasizing that this is a technology demonstration, not a consumer product launch.

"Wireless power has been promised for decades," stated Harri Santamala, co-founder and CEO of Willo. "Many systems stop working once devices move or rotate. That history is why we're starting with demonstrations, not promises."

Cutting the Cord for Industry 4.0

Willo is not targeting the consumer electronics market initially. Instead, its focus is squarely on sectors where power cables represent a critical bottleneck: industrial automation, robotics, and the emerging field of spatial computing. In these environments, the benefits of untethered power extend far beyond convenience.

In a modern factory or warehouse, autonomous mobile robots and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) must periodically halt operations to return to a charging dock, creating downtime and logistical complexity. A system like Willo's could allow these machines to charge continuously as they perform their tasks, enabling true 24/7 autonomy. Robotic arms, currently tethered by cumbersome cable bundles that limit their range of motion, could operate with greater freedom and flexibility.

"Almost every physical system is built around an assumption that power comes from a cable," explained Marko Voutilainen, co-founder, President, and Chair of the Board at Willo. "It's also the main reason physical systems still struggle to be truly autonomous. Until that changes, autonomy remains constrained."

The implications for spatial computing—augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR)—are equally profound. Today's high-performance headsets are limited by either heavy onboard batteries or a physical tether to a power source, both of which hinder immersion and usability. Alignment-free wireless power could enable lightweight, powerful headsets that operate indefinitely, a key step toward their widespread adoption in industrial design, training, and maintenance.

Navigating a Crowded and Regulated Field

Willo enters a competitive landscape populated by companies like Ossia, Energous, and WiTricity, each with its own approach to wireless power. While competitors have made significant strides in RF-based and resonant charging, Willo's key differentiator is its demonstrated tolerance for complete misalignment and rotation, a feature particularly valuable for the dynamic industrial environments it targets.

However, technical innovation is only part of the battle. Any technology that transmits power through the air must navigate a complex web of regulatory and safety standards. Government bodies like the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and European authorities impose strict limits on radio frequency emissions to ensure human safety and prevent interference with other wireless communications. Willo will need to prove its system can deliver meaningful power while operating well within these established safety thresholds for Specific Absorption Rate (SAR), which measures energy absorption by the human body.

This rigorous testing and certification process is a significant hurdle for any company in the space and will be a critical factor in Willo's timeline for commercial deployment.

From Stealth to Strategy

Headquartered in Finland, Willo has cultivated its technology behind the scenes, assembling a team that blends deep academic research with formidable hardware execution experience. The company's leadership includes alumni from major technology firms like Microsoft, Nokia, and Oura, signaling a serious intent to not only innovate but also to manufacture and scale. Jonne Harju, former Design Director of Hardware at Microsoft, and Petteri Kotaniemi, who previously led manufacturing at Oura, bring crucial expertise in bringing complex hardware from concept to mass production.

The company’s go-to-market strategy appears to be a calculated B2B approach, focusing on collaboration with established industry players. Willo confirmed that interest from global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) has already led to discussions around paid proof-of-concept projects. This early, paid validation from potential customers is a strong indicator of the technology's perceived value and commercial potential.

By pursuing partnerships with manufacturers of robots, industrial machinery, and enterprise hardware, Willo aims to embed its technology at the source, likely through a business model involving component sales or technology licensing. This path, while longer than a direct-to-consumer launch, allows the company to prove its system's reliability and impact in demanding, high-value applications before potentially expanding into broader markets. The success of these initial OEM projects will be the true test of whether Willo's demonstration of freedom from alignment can translate into a new industrial revolution.