Feasibility Limits of Satellite-Assisted RF Wireless Power Transfer for Consumer Devices: A System-Level Analysis

This study evaluates the physical feasibility of satellite-assisted RF wireless power transfer using a passive dual-hop relay architecture. A system-level analytical model based on the Friis transmission equation is developed to quantify propagation losses, frequency dependence, nonlinear rectenna behavior, and receiver sensitivity constraints. Numerical evaluation shows that received power ranges from approximately −140 dBm for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) scenarios to −232 dBm for Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO), remaining substantially below both the rectenna activation threshold and the thermal noise floor under practical operating conditions.

1. Popović Z. Cut the Cord: Low-Power Far-Field Wireless Powering / Z. Popović // IEEE Microwave Magazine. – 2013. – Vol. 14, Iss. 2. – P. 55–62.

2. Aboualalaa M. Rectenna systems for RF energy harvesting and wireless power transfer / M. Aboualalaa, H. Elsadek // Recent Wireless Power Transfer Technologies. – London: IntechOpen, 2020. – URL: https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.89674 [Accessed 20th August 2026].

3. Shinohara N. Wireless Power Transfer via Radiowaves / N. Shinohara. – Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2014. – 254 p.

4. Brown W.C. The history of power transmission by radio waves / W.C. Brown // IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. – 1984. – Vol. 32, Iss. 9. – P. 1230–1242.

5. Report ITU-R SM.2392-0. Applications of wireless power transmission via radio frequency beam / International Telecommunication Union. – Geneva: ITU, 2016. – 31 p.

6. Wireless charging technologies: Fundamentals, standards, and network applications / X. Lu, P. Wang, D. Niyato [et al.] // IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials. – 2016. – Vol. 18, Iss. 2. – P. 1413–1452.

7. Kim S. Wireless power transfer to miniature implants: Transmitter optimization / S. Kim, J.S. Ho, A.S.Y. Poon // IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation. – 2012. – Vol. 60, Iss. 10. – P. 4838–4845.

8. Fundamentals of Wireless Information and Power Transfer: From RF Energy Harvester Models to Signal and System Designs / B. Clerckx, R. Zhang, R. Schober [et al.] // IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications. – 2019. – Vol. 37, Iss. 1. – P. 4–33.

9. Recycling ambient microwave energy with broad-band rectenna arrays / J.A. Hagerty, F.B. Helmbrecht, W.H. McCalpin [et al.] // IEEE Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques. – 2004. – Vol. 52, Iss. 3. – P. 1014–1024.

10. Huang Y. Antennas: From Theory to Practice / Y. Huang. – 2nd ed. – Chichester: John Wiley & Sons, 2021. – 544 p.

11. McSpadden J.O. Space solar power programs and microwave wireless power transmission technology / J.O. McSpadden, J.C. Mankins // IEEE Microwave Magazine. – 2002. – Vol. 3, Iss. 4. – P. 46–57.

12. Bi S. Wireless powered communication: Opportunities and challenges / S. Bi, Ch.K. Ho, R. Zhang // IEEE Communications Magazine. – 2015. – Vol. 53, Iss. 4. – P. 117–125.

13. Collado A. Conformal hybrid solar and electromagnetic (EM) energy harvesting rectenna / A. Collado, A. Georgiadis // IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I: Regular Papers. – 2013. – Vol. 60, Iss. 8. – P. 2225–2234.

14. Balanis C.A. Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design / C.A. Balanis. – 4th ed. – Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, 2016. – 1104 p.