MIT team powers light bulb without wires
In the photo above, members of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology team perform the experiment demonstrating wireless power transmission from the coil on the left to the coil on the right. Researchers made a 60-watt light bulb glow by sending it energy wirelessly - from a device 7 feet away - potentially heralding the future of power supply. Imagine never needing power cables or having to worry about charging your mobile phone or laptop.
The breakthrough, disclosed in Science Express, an online publication of the journal Science, is being called "WiTricity" by the scientists.
Previously dismissed for its inherent innefficiency (electromagnetic energy from the charging device would radiate in all directions) the breakthrough came using Nikola Tesla's 100 year old theory. MIT Physics Professor Marin Soljacic eloborated on this stating the key is to get the charging device and a gadget to resonate at the same frequency - allowing them to efficiently exchange energy.
The new step described in Science was that the MIT team put the concept into action. The scientists lit a 60-watt bulb that was 7 feet away from the power-generating appliance.
"It was quite exciting," Soljacic said. The process is "very reproducible," he added. "We can just go to the lab and do it whenever we want."
A benefit of this technology, demonstrated in the image is objects placed between the coils (in this case humans) did not inhibit the transfer of power.
With an efficiency of 40-45% the system requires some significant development to become a feasible means of power supply. A potential risk is the electromagnetic energy emitted, this could
damage electronic components although during preliminary testing mobile phones, credit cards and other equipment were unaffected.
Although some years away from realising real world application this could be a breakthrough in wireless power.