Some time ago, I wrote about the obvious need for wireless electricity -- even if it's as simple as the power I use to recharge my devices. I say "obvious", because you don't have to be a genius to know that wires hold us captive. Removing wires gives us freedom and mobility. Freedom and mobility are good. Duh. Trickle-charging my devices while I roam would go a long way to extending the life of my battery, methinks.
Anna Salleh for ABC Science Online has the story:
Assistant Professor Marin Soljacic, of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will present his team's work at the American Institute of Physics forum in San Francisco this week. [...]
Prof Soljacic says he has found a way of transmitting energy so that only the devices that it is recharging will pick it up, so it will not affect humans.
Instead of using traditional radiation, he wants to use the part of the electromagnetic field that is 'non-radiative'.
He says devices can be tuned to the frequency of this field and thus act as a sink for all the energy the transmitter gives out.
Prof Soljacic says this would prevent energy radiating out to areas it does not need to go to, providing an efficient and safe method of wireless energy transfer.
"The team calculates that an object the size of a laptop could be recharged within a few metres of the power source," he says. "Placing one source in each room could provide coverage throughout your home."
Prof Soljacic also thinks the technology could be used to power freely roaming robots in a factory.
I'll let somebody else test that first. In the mean time, where'd I put that extension cord? Tesla must be so proud.