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This is the first time I have seen a working demonstration of a wireless power transfer technology that did not involve microwave beaming or other potentially hazerdous direct line of sight transfer. If they can make this work well, this could be the start of very intersting times for technology.


http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/science_technology/breakthrough+to+a+wireless+future/551082


Breakthrough to a wireless future
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Last Modified: 08 Jun 2007
Source: PA News


Scientists have demonstrated a simple way to transmit electricity through the air, raising the prospect of a world of wireless gadgets.

In the experiment, researchers lit a 60-watt light bulb from an energy source 7ft away using no power leads.

The research heralds a future in which mobile phones, MP3 players, laptop computers, and other appliances can be charged up without having to plug them into a wall socket. Some devices may even be able to operate without batteries at all.

The concept of "WiTricity", as the scientists have dubbed the technology, is not new. At the start of the 20th century, the American inventor Nikola Tesla dreamed of wireless power and conducted experiments showing how it could be done. However, the huge coils he used to generate electromagnetic fields only managed a very low level of power transfer.

The new approach described in the journal Science relies on two coils joined by a resonating magnetic field.

In principle the effect is similar to the transfer of energy that allows an opera singer who strikes the right note to crack a wine glass. If the glass is filled with just enough wine, it will vibrate at the same frequency as the singer's voice. Other glasses placed around it containing different amounts of wine will be unaffected, even if the soprano's voice is loud enough to shatter the resonating glass.

The magnetic coils used in the WiTricity experiment were coupled together the same way. One coil, attached to a power source, acted as the sender unit.

Instead of generating electromagnetic waves that radiate out and dissipate into space, it generated a non-radiative magnetic field of limited range. The field resonated with the receiver coil and induced a current to flow through it.

When the power to the sending coil was switched on, the light bulb connected to the receiving coil lit up even when objects were placed between them. The energy-transfer system was more than powerful enough to run a laptop over room-sized distances.

Professor Peter Fisher, who helped to conduct the research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, US, said: "As long as the laptop is in a room equipped with a source of such wireless power, it would charge automatically, without having to be plugged in. In fact, it would not even need a battery to operate inside of such a room."

Interesting experiment. Maybe this would eventually grow to, perhaps, a large station that could power an entire neighborhood, or city block?

While it doesn't require line-of-sight, it does require that there not be a large-scale obstruction (such as a wall) in the way, at least as far as the material of the obstruction is concerned with respect to the resonance frequency.

To be honest, I'm not quite sure what frequencies of magnetic field are easily reflected by walls (it doesn't necessarily correspond to radiation wavelengths [due to the non-radiative nature of the field] - though if it does, it's going to have to be somewhere in the realm of the equivalent of visible light) and which ones will penetrate walls - but this is probably the major block between "MIT hacking" and "commercial product" as usual, making it practical.

Well its not like the range on this would have to be huge. Your high energy devices, (washing machine, computers, heaters, etc) would likely still need to be tethered to a wall for the immidiate future. You would be talking devices like cell phones, PDA's, remote controlls, maybe a laptop though that would be pushing things. So its not like there would be a whole heck of alot of electricity here. So even if somene did steal some of it, who cares? I wouldn't think the field would extend much beyond your outer walls, and if someone was sucking power you would notice it on your bill.

I see a potential for a new type of electrical plan. You pay the actual usage rate for your wired devices, then you would jut pay a subscription rate, much like a cell phone for the wireless power. The advantage to that would be if they can find a way to include a wireless data meter with the device to determine usage, you could literally walk around and get power for your device wherever.

This coupled with the new lithium polymer battery technology and the new micro fuel cells for when you are out of range is going to make for some exciteing devices.

Women everywhere should rejoice. Soon there will no longer be a need for batteries for their BOBs.

I thought it was a joke because i seen this ad to the right when the page popped up. 3-D

Edited, Jun 9th 2007 3:48pm by Magnavoxroan

This might almost make the electric car a reality. They would have to spend a ******** of money putting transponders in along the interstates, but teh power lines are already there. Or if nothing else, large trucks. get the desial out of the system.

So if I drink the right amount of water I get electrocuted? I don't think I like this technology...

Edited, Jun 11th 2007 10:38am by Yodabunny