Wouldn’t it be cool to have all your equipment powered through thin air, completely wire free? Well, thanks to wireless power transmission, that dream could soon become reality. Intel’s recent demonstration proved that efficiencies of up to 75% could be achieved by using resonant transmitters instead of the traditional induction-based ones. Ideally, one main transmitter could be placed on or inside a wall while several other receivers are placed around the house so as to maximize the effect. Even the 75%-80% efficiency rate isn’t as bad as it sounds, that’s actually better that what your laptop batteries can achieve!
While any movement forward is good, it seems a bit scary to know that the atmosphere around you is charged and transmitting lethal doses of electricity through it. While MIT physics professor, Marin Soljacic, has been able to get up to 90% efficiency when the devices were moved to about 3 feet apart, one wonders what happens to the 10%-25% that escapes. We’ve been informed that it is no real concern, but I still have my doubts. But it’s good to see advancements coming out of this field. Hopefully this technology will one day be perfected and fit for domestic use. Keep your eyes peeled!
Via CNN
Comments
Nithya, this is VERY interesting info. Like you said, I wonder what can be - ve effects of this. Like current flowing thru grids produce magnetic field around it that is known to play with human brain, but not sure if this will be applicable here. Wonder how the current flows here in the first place.
To be very honest.. it all sounds very scary! If every house were to have at least one transmitter, I could only imagine the amount of electrical and magnetic fields spiraling through the air.
Personally, I could live with the wires to avoid this mess!
As for the exact process of WiTricity (as its popularly being called), I’m a little unsure. The physics is all way over my head. But i could give you the search words that could help.
Look up Resonant Induction and Evanescent Wave Coupling.
Thanks Nithya, I will check it out.