Scene: you are attending an important business meeting, or writing a thesis for the upcoming university exam forgetting to save after the last transcribed period, when suddenly the warning appears on the computer screen that the battery is running low. You need to attach the power supply plug as soon as possible, however, you do not find a suitable outlet and the only one you happen to have at hand requires a special adapter, which you happen not to have. Thinking about it, you will find this scenario quite plausible and everyday, agreeing that it would be advantageous to be able to use one’s technological media in the most congenial place without having to worry about plugging in the power supply cable.
Electricity in wireless connection
With the intention of obviating this factor, theUniversity of Tokyo (the Todai) has developed a research chair to build an innovative charging system wireless, which would make it possible to charge cell phones, computers and power lamps or robots without having to use a cable or having to search for outlets scattered around the house. The project, presented in the journal Nature Electronics, proposes the construction of a “charging room” even at medium distances without needing contact with the power source, transferring energy in a safe and controlled manner a few meters away. A project that, in addition to having practical day-to-day utilities, would allow for the regeneration of medical devices needed on some patients as well as decreasing wiring (and increasing safety) for many factories, representing another step toward a future whereenergy efficiency will increasingly be a basic demand.
The operation of power supplies
In order to enable this continuous feeding, the Japanese researchers hypothesized (at the current level reached by research, that is, for a room 3 meters long and 3 meters wide by two meters high) an instrument that could transfer electricity to multiple devices up to 50 watts anywhere in the room even while moving, as long as the device itself is aligned with the magnetic fields Running through the environment.
The system is made possible by the union of two different magnetic fields, present at opposite poles between a vertical pole structure to be placed in the center of the room and a second device placed on one of the opposite walls, thus allowing for total coverage capable of generating power anywhere in the room without incurring blind spots where the signal would risk falling. According to the researchers, this system will not cause any damage to biological tissues, will be rigidly safe, and could be implemented in the future even in larger spaces such as warehouses. Also designed to enable autonomous movement of robots in materials handling, the implementations could be endless, from businesses to homes.
