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This episode of DNews is proudly brought to you by Subaru.
BY TESLA WE'VE GOT IT! Wireless electricity might be coming to a home near you... y'know.
Someday.
Greetings programs, Trace here for DNews. In 1897, Nikola Tesla — asexual genius and
inventor extraordinaire — wanted to QUOTE "turn the whole world into a giant wireless
dynamo." He was awarded a patent in 1907 for wireless electricity but then the Great War
began and the whole thing was lost to history.
Now, over a century later, researchers at MIT created wireless power transmission which
could realize his dream! Sort of. While Tesla was trying to power cities, this transmits
wireless power around your house! Your phone, car, television, laptop, game console, controllers,
remotes, toaster and every lightbulb in every frickin' lamp could all be powered by magnetic
resonators.
The Faraday Law of Induction describes how an electromagnet creates a magnetic field.
When an electrified coil of wire is wrapped around a metal rod, the metal magnetizes.
Similarly, when you pass a magnet THROUGH an unpowered coil of wire, the magnet creates
electricity. Physics is awesome.
Researchers at MIT found a way to turn simple physics into a wireless way to transmit electricity
using a similar technology to WiFi. By plugging in a resonator to the alternating current
outlet in your wall, the device creates a magnetic oscillation. The magnetic field of
the resonator is large enough to mingle with nearby coils installed in the walls and floors
of your house — and ultimately into every device and BOOM wireless power. One magnetic
coil influences another and another all over the house. It's like the barking chain in
101 Dalmatians!
MIT spun off the technology into a funny named company called WiTricity. The system can already
power televisions, cell phones and keep their special AA batteries fully charged all at
the same time!
To be honest, induction charging has been around for a while, as has wireless power
transmission. Radio waves are wireless power, the pads you can buy to charge your cell phone,
mouse or game controllers use wireless power, but this is a bit different. The ones we have
now use near-field induction and this blows it into a whole new proportion.
The problem with any of these systems, is the efficiency. Magnetic fields have to be
relatively close-by to pick up other magnetic fields. The MIT researchers were able to power
one 60 watt light bulb from 2 meters away — but it was only 45% efficient. So they
put in 133 watts to power a 60 watt bulb. Not awesome; though according to the researchers,
this system is 1 million times more efficient than the ones already on the market... and
the CEO of WiTricity says it's 1,000 times more efficient than a battery!
This works with both OLD and NEW technology. Just because it's old doesn't mean it's not
awesome. Just ask Tekzilla's Patrick Norton - Pat customized 3 high-mileage Subaru cars
for 3 charity-minded owners, so they can keep doin' their thing & helping the world. Check
out Pat's handy work on the Second Chance Subaru series at revision3.com/subaru. If
you want wireless power in YOUR house, click Like and tell us what you'd use it for down
below! See you next time on DNews.