Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. Receives Patent for System and Method for Vehicle Charging

Published: 2025-06-26 09:20:27 ET OPTT

Published on 06/26/2025 at 09:20

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has issued a Notice of Allowance for its U.S. patent application titled "System and Method for Vehicle Charging." The newly allowed patent (Application No. 18/936,528) protects OPT's breakthrough system for an autonomous, floating marine charging solution. Designed to address the increasing demand for clean maritime operations, the intervention enables electric vessels--including uncrewed surface vehicles--to safely locate, dock with, and recharge from a floating energy platform while at sea.

This innovation is core to OPT's vision of scalable, intelligent offshore infrastructure. The floating charging station will integrate seamlessly with the PowerBuoy®? platform, allowing it to serve as both a power generation node and a recharging hub.

When combined, these systems will enable WAM-V®? autonomous surface vehicles to conduct long-duration missions with minimized downtime and no need for shore return. The patent covers multiple key features, including: Signal-emitting guidance systems for dynamic maritime docking.

Flexible and secure mooring structures to stabilize vessels during energy transfer. Wired and wireless energy delivery mechanisms; and Options for wave-powered self-sustaining energy generation. With this patent, OPT strengthens its IP portfolio and expands its capacity to support clients operating in remote or infrastructure-limited marine environments.

The solution provides a foundational capability for extending the range and autonomy of uncrewed maritime systems.