Intel demonstrates wireless power

by Scott Bicheno on 22 August 2008, 11:37

Tags: Intel (NASDAQ:INTC)

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The science

Obviously safety and cost effectiveness are paramount and WREL aspires to be both of these. The science is based around the concept of coupled resonators, the most tangible illustration of which is the ability of opera singers to shatter glasses with their voice.

This relies on the note they sing corresponding strongly with the resonant frequency of the glass. When this happens there is the transfer of sufficient energy from the singer to the glass to shatter it. It seems that energy can also be transmitted in a more benign way if done properly.

The practical application seems to be similar to Wi-Fi hotspots, in so much as when your device comes within range of a transmitter it will receive the commodity offered by the hotspot - in this case energy rather than connectivity.

With so much emphasis on mobile devices from Intel these days, it's clear why this would be a particularly attractive innovation for the chip giant, but the company stresses that many engineering challenges remain.

 

Press release: Intel CTO Says Gap between Humans, Machines will Close by 2050

 



HEXUS Forums :: 5 Comments

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This design/technology has been around for ages now, the main reason it hasnt been funded much is the energy wasted in the process along with strangers stealing your power much like wireless internet, who really would like that with bills increasing?. Its a good thing to dream about but it wont be out for a good while till those issues are sorted, nice that intel are in it though :P.
I've been saying for a good decade that the day we can transmit power wirelessly and efficiently, things will change massively……to the extent of maybe being as big a jump as we took when the microchip was invented.

Unfortunately, I expect this still has a very long way to go and the current energy crisis the world is heading towards means that any inefficiency will not be looked on too favourably.

VERY exciting stuff.
I don't really see how this could ever be as efficient as a cable to be honest, and in a world of spiralling energy prices as others have said, I just don't see it happening.

Charging something overnight just isn't enough of a problem for this to edge it's way in unless it's perfect IMO. Who knows what will happen decades from now, but for the moment I'm pessimistic.
Hicks12
This design/technology has been around for ages now, the main reason it hasnt been funded much is the energy wasted in the process along with strangers stealing your power much like wireless internet, who really would like that with bills increasing?. Its a good thing to dream about but it wont be out for a good while till those issues are sorted, nice that intel are in it though :P.

Come on, someone will will invent encrypted electricity. :P
why wont the release wireless lightbulbs then lol