Wireless charging system for a road

1 . A wireless charging system for a road, said wireless charging system comprising:

a strain sensor array embedded within the road, wherein the strain sensor array is configured to generate data regarding strain on the road corresponding to passing vehicles;

a wireless power charger embedded within the road, wherein the wireless power charger is configured to induce wireless charging in the vehicles;

a reinforcement layer embedded within the road with the wireless power charger positioned below the reinforcement layer, the reinforcement layer comprising non-magnetic shielding material;

a second reinforcement layer embedded within the road with the wireless power charger positioned above the second reinforcement layer, the second reinforcement layer comprising magnetic shielding material; and

at least one control processor in communication with the strain sensor array and the wireless power charger, wherein the control processor is configured to control the wireless power charger based on the data received from the strain sensor array.

2 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the strain sensor array comprises at least one optical fiber sensor.

3 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the strain sensor array includes a plurality of strain sensors distributed along a first dimension of the road and along a second dimension of the road perpendicular to the first dimension.

4 . The wireless charging system of claim 3 , wherein the road includes a precast slab in which the strain sensor array and the wireless power charger are embedded, wherein the road has a perimeter defined by a plurality of sides and the strain sensor array is distributed along at least fifty percent (50%) of a length of the precast slab as defined along the first dimension inside the perimeter and along at least fifty percent (50%) of a width of the precast slab as defined along the second dimension inside the perimeter.

5 . The wireless charging system of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of load-transferring connectors embedded along a side of the plurality of sides and attached to an adjacent structure, the plurality of load-transferring connectors being configured to transfer load on the precast slab corresponding to the passing vehicles between the precast slab and the adjacent structure.

6 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power charger is positioned above the strain sensor array within the road.

7 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the wireless power charger is positioned above the reinforcement layer.

8 . The wireless charging system of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a magnetic shielding material.

9 . The wireless charging system of claim 8 , wherein the magnetic shielding material comprises a ferrous material.

10 . The wireless charging system of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcement layer comprises a non-magnetic shielding material.

11 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the non-magnetic shielding material comprises a polymer.

12 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the second reinforcement layer comprises electrically conductive material.

13 . The wireless charging system of claim 12 , wherein the strain sensor array is attached to the second reinforcement layer.

14 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , further comprising a communication element embedded within the road, wherein the communication element is configured to communicate with the vehicle.

15 . A method of wirelessly charging a vehicle traveling on a road, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) sensing, via a strain sensor array embedded within the road, the vehicle traveling on the road, wherein said sensing of step (a) includes generating, via the strain sensor array, strain data regarding strain on the road corresponding to the vehicle traveling on the road;

(b) providing the strain data to at least one control processor in communication with the strain sensor array; and

(c) transmitting, via a wireless power charger embedded within the road, energy wirelessly to the vehicle, wherein said transmitting of step (c) is controlled by the at least one control processor in communication with wireless power charger, the control processor being configured to control the wireless power charger based on the strain data generated by the strain sensor array,

wherein the wireless power charger is embedded within the road: (i) below a reinforcement layer that comprises non-magnetic shielding material in the road, and (ii) above a second reinforcement layer that comprises magnetic shielding material in the road.

16 . The wireless charging system of claim 1 , wherein the strain sensor array comprises at least one optical fiber sensor fixed to the second reinforcement layer.

17 . A wireless charging system for a road, said wireless charging system comprising:

a strain sensor array embedded within the road, wherein the strain sensor array is configured to generate data regarding strain on the road corresponding to passing vehicles, wherein the strain sensor array includes a plurality of strain sensors distributed along a first dimension of the road and along a second dimension of the road perpendicular to the first dimension;

a wireless power charger embedded within the road, wherein the wireless power charger is configured to induce wireless charging in the vehicles, wherein the road includes a precast slab in which the strain sensor array and the wireless power charger are embedded, and wherein the road has a perimeter defined by a plurality of sides;

at least one control processor in communication with the strain sensor array and the wireless power charger, wherein the control processor is configured to control the wireless power charger based on the data received from the strain sensor array; and

a plurality of load-transferring connectors embedded along at least a side of the plurality of sides and attached to an adjacent structure, the plurality of load-transferring connectors being configured to transfer load on the precast slab corresponding to the passing vehicles between the precast slab and the adjacent structure.