Wireless Electricity
Imagine a future in which wireless power transfer is feasible: cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers and other portable electronics capable of charging themselves without ever being plugged in, finally freeing us from the power cord. Some of these devices might not even need their bulky batteries to operate.
Scientists have known for nearly two centuries how to transmit electricity without wires, and the phenomenon has been demonstrated several times before. But it was not until the rise of personal electronic devices that the demand for wireless power materialized. In the past few years, at least three companies have debuted prototypes of wireless power devices, though their distance range is relatively limited. Thanks to wireless technology, researchers at MIT extended the wi-fi concept to allow the beaming of power to anything that uses electricity. The MIT scientists successfully powered a 60-watt light bulb from a power source seven feet away. The team called their invention WiTricity, short for “wireless electricity.”
The first wireless powering system to market is an inductive device that looks like a mouse pad and can send power through the air, over a distance of up to a few inches. A powered coil inside the pad creates a magnetic field, which induces current to flow through a small secondary coil that’s built into any portable device, such as a flashlight, a phone, or a BlackBerry. The electrical current that then flows in that secondary coil charges the device’s onboard rechargeable battery. Although many portable devices, such as the iPhone, have yet to be outfitted with this tiny coil, a number of companies are about to introduce products that are.
The practical benefit of this approach is huge. You can drop any number of devices on the charging pad, and they will recharge—wirelessly. No more tangle of power cables or a jumble of charging stations. What’s more, because you are invisible to the magnetic fields created by the system, no electricity will flow into you if you stray between device and pad. Nor are there any exposed “hot” metal connections. And the pads are smart with built-in coils which know if the device sitting on them is authorized to receive power, or if it needs power at all. So car keys won’t be charged or the flashlight overcharged.
One of the dominant players in this technology is Michigan-based Fulton Innovation. Fulton’s new pad-based system, called eCoupled, will be available to police, fire-and-rescue, and contractor fleets—an initial market of as many as 700,000 vehicles annually. The system is being integrated into a truck console to allow users to charge anything from a compatible rechargeable flashlight to a PDA. The tools and other devices now in the pipeline at companies such as Bosch, Energizer, and others will look just like their conventional ancestors. Companies such as Philips Electronics, Olympus, and Logitech will create a standard for products, from flashlights to drills to cell phones to TV remotes.
Applications
¦ Wireless power transfer technology can be applied in a wide variety of applications and environments. The ability of the technology to transfer power safely, efficiently, and over distance can improve products by making them more convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly. Wireless power transfer technology can be used to provide:
¦ Direct wireless power—when all the power a device needs are provided wirelessly and no batteries are required. This mode is a device that is always used within a range of its power source.
¦ Automatic wireless charging—when a device with rechargeable batteries charges itself while still in use or at rest, without requiring a power cord or battery replacement. This mode is for a mobile device that may be used both in and out of range of its power source.
Consumer Electronics
¦ Automatic wireless charging of mobile electronics (phones, laptops, game controllers, etc.) in home, car, office, wi-fi hotspots while devices are in use and mobile.
¦ Direct wireless powering of stationary devices (flat screen TVs, digital picture frames, home theater accessories, wireless loudspeakers, etc.) eliminating expensive custom wiring, unsightly cables and power supplies.
¦ Direct wireless powering of desktop PC peripherals: wireless mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, display, etc., eliminating disposable batteries and awkward cabling.
Industrial
¦ Direct wireless power and communication interconnections across rotating and moving “joints” (robots, packaging machinery, assembly machinery, machine tools) eliminating costly and failure-prone wiring.
¦ Direct wireless power and communication interconnections at points of use in harsh environments (drilling, mining, underwater, etc.) where it is impractical or impossible to run wires.
¦ Direct wireless power for wireless sensors, eliminating the need for expensive power wiring or battery replacement and disposal.
¦ Automatic wireless charging for mobile robots, automatic guided vehicles, cordless tools, and instruments eliminating complex docking mechanisms and labor-intensive manual recharging and battery replacement.
Transportation
¦ Automatic wireless charging for existing electric vehicle classes: golf carts, industrial vehicles.
¦ Automatic wireless charging for future hybrid and all-electric passenger and commercial vehicles, at home, in parking garages, at fleet depots, and at remote kiosks.
¦ Direct wireless power interconnections to replace costly vehicle wiring harnesses.
Other Applications
¦ Direct wireless power interconnections and automatic wireless charging for implantable medical devices (pacemaker, defibrillator, etc.).
¦ Automatic wireless charging for high-tech military systems (battery-powered mobile devices, covert sensors, unmanned mobile robots, and aircraft, etc.).
¦ Direct wireless powering and automatic wireless charging of smart cards.
¦ Direct wireless powering and automatic wireless charging of consumer appliances, mobile robots, etc.1
Questions
1. Explain the fundamentals of wireless power transfer technology.
2. Describe the business benefits of using wireless electricity.
3. Identify two types of business opportunities companies could use to gain a competitive advantage using wireless electricity.
4. What are some other creative uses of wireless electricity not mentioned in the case?
5. How would a wireless power distribution network operate similar to cell networks?