A trio of 29-year-old Malaysians has developed a wireless power bank for satellites, demonstrating Malaysia’s technological prowess. The technology, using radio signals for wireless charging, is set to be tested on the moon in collaboration with lunar rover developer Astrolab. The team aims to dispel the notion that Malaysians are only technology users, encouraging more innovation within the country.
1 Feb 2024 – A group of talented 29-year-olds from Malaysia, comprising Muhammad Kamil, Razlan Dhamir Hamdan, and Justin Lee, has successfully developed groundbreaking technology for more efficient wireless charging in space, including on the moon. The trio, demonstrating Malaysia’s prowess on the international stage, created a wireless power bank specifically designed for satellites, providing a notable contribution to space technology.
The innovative product emerged from the collaborative efforts of Muhammad, Razlan, and Lee, all of whom possess qualifications in software engineering and marketing. Their project, a wireless power bank for satellites, not only showcases Malaysia’s technological capabilities but has also earned them a spot in the Startup World Cup held on December 1 last year. This competition, featuring top startups worldwide, aims to identify the next emerging unicorn in the tech industry.
The concept of a wireless power bank for satellites was inspired by Razlan’s fascination with space, particularly ignited by Neil Armstrong’s historic moon landing. Razlan, a graduate from Universiti Teknologi Mara, envisions building a charging station to connect satellites without the use of traditional wires. Instead, the technology employs radio signals, similar to wirelessly charging a smartphone using a power bank.
Razlan highlighted the advantages of their technology, emphasizing its efficiency compared to conventional methods. He explained, “Conventional technology is very large and not energy-efficient because, for example, if you want to send 100 watts of power (to space), the customer’s device may not receive it fully. We, on the other hand, can channel all of it.”
Muhammad revealed that their invention has attracted the attention of lunar rover developer Astrolab, which has entered into an agreement with SpaceX to transport its first rover to the moon in 2026. Muhammad expressed optimism about testing their technology on the moon, stating, “We have an agreement, and hopefully we can do ‘moon testing technology’ there. We hope to be able to test out technology before signing customers on.”
Beyond their groundbreaking achievement, Muhammad hopes that their efforts will challenge the stereotype that Malaysians are mere users of technology and not active contributors to its advancement. He encouraged fellow Malaysians to be brave in developing new technologies, stating, “Not many Malaysians are brave enough to develop new technology. I hope to encourage more Malaysians to invent their own technologies. We may be doing something in space, but surely there are others who are brave enough to create new technologies for use on earth.” – ref: FMT
