Even the Boundless MWPT Can’t Escape Politics

 Politics & Cultural Influences

      The mid-field wireless power transmission is a new technology. Like with most technologies, there are always some interference by public policy and law. Don’t get me wrong, public policy is needed to maintain and regulate the technologies. Can you imagine how chaotic the world will be without laws? I can and I don’t like what I saw. But should politics influence the development and research of the technology? 

(Nikola Tesla, Image taken from Wikipedia.org)

     Nikola Tesla, as mentioned in the previous post, was a prime example of how politics can intersect with his research. In 1900, Tesla was in the process of developing and realizing wireless power transmission. His project, Wardenclyffe Tower, would have provided free electricity to thousands of people (Click HERE to learn more about this project). But, politics came swooping in and put a halt to Tesla’s work. Why you might ask? Well you can blame or thank J.P. Morgan for depriving us of the WPT technology for a century. Morgan cut off funds for Tesla’s project and as a result the United States government destroyed the tower. Therefore funding is probably the biggest political issue for engineers and scientists. Engineers can’t develop or research new innovations if they don’t have funds. Don’t you find it frustrating when you know something is good for society, but it won’t be commercialized because it’s not profitable? If only Morgan and the U.S. government knew back then, that WPT technology could become an $8.5 billion industry, then our electricity will have no bounds. 

(Image taken from spaceforspecies.ca)

      Another issue is trying to find a common standard.  Whenever there are too much of something, things can start to be chaotic. So we have to find a universal standard. Think about all the electronic devices in the world and all of the manufacturers that produce them. You can probably name at least ten already. Imagine trying to unify all of those devices and manufacturers to follow one certain standard.  You might think it’s impossible, but this process is already happening. The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is already working to define a universal standard for wireless power products (Wireless Power, 2012). Engineers are mainly responsible for developing the technology; it’s the role of the government to regulate the technology. Every country has its standard for electricity, and the wireless power transmission will have to assimilate into each one. It’s no easy task, which is why this technology still hasn’t been released to the public yet. Are you feeling excited and eager to experience this technology?

(Image taken from Google.com)

     

       Why the rise in the popularity of this technology? The WPT is a cultural phenomenon and all the electronic industries know it. As mentioned in the previous post, this technology has a wide range of applications, which means many industries can utilize it. Since most of the electronic industry giants want a piece of the pie, more funding is provided. There is even an organization solely dedicated for expanding wireless charging, known as The Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP). The A4WP has influenced "consumer electronics, mobile services, wireless technology, automotive, software and other industries" to adopt the WPT (About A4WP, 2014). With all of these influences, it’s no wonder why more and more industries are joining the bandwagon for this technology. Do you feel like joining the bandwagon as well? You might have to in the next few years because wireless power transmission technology is coming. Politics shouldn’t have a role in the research and development of technologies, but should have a role in the regulation and maintenance of the technology. 

 Want to learn more about The Alliance for Wireless Powering, then click HERE

 Want to see which company is leading the charge for WPT, then click HERE

References

About A4WP. (2014, June 20). Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP). Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://www.rezence.com/alliance/about-a4wp

Wireless Power. (2012, May 12). - CEA. Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://www.ce.org/Consumer-Info/Wireless-Computing/Got-It/Digital-Tips-First-Look-Wireless-Power.aspx

Young, J. (2009, December 10). Weird & Wireless: What about wireless power transmission?. Electro Ramblings. Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://www.electronicsweekly.com/electro-ramblings/weird-wireless/weird-wireless-what-about-wireless-power-transmission-2009-12/

 

Nikola Tesla: The Father of WPT

Researcher

(Image taken from huffingtonpost.com)

      

    What great individual created the idea of wireless power transfer? Why the answer is Nikola Tesla. Nikola Tesla lived between the years 1856 and 1944. He was a renowned Serbian-American inventor, often accredited for developing the famous alternating current (AC) electrical system and wireless power transfer. Tesla was always an enthusiast for electrical inventions, which prompted him to meet our beloved Thomas Edison in 1884. But Thomas Edison was not so fond of Tesla because his system was considered inferior.  Tesla went on to develop and research in other fields as well, such as the exploration of solar energy and wave power. Can you believe that he registered over 700 patents worldwide in his lifetime?  This man was no joke when it came to his passion for electrical systems. Perhaps the greatest discovery Tesla made was the idea of being able to wirelessly transfer power to any point across the world. However, he was never able to finish his research due to financial reasons, which haunted him for the rest of his life. Tesla died at the age of 86, but his legacy still continues to thrive till this day.

(Image taken from wordpress.com)

    Nikola Tesla was a man with many talents, who achieved so many great ideas. It’s almost impossible to list all of the work and research he contributed in his life-time. The biggest achievement he made was creating our current AC electrical system. He is often referred to as the “Father of the AC electrical system.” Tesla was competing with Edison to establish which electrical system will be implemented in the United States, and later the world. Edison had his DC system and Tesla had his AC system. Can you guess who won? Well, it was Tesla who came out to be victorious and it was the logical choice.  Why, you might wonder? According to Tesla, he stated that the DC system couldn’t be transported more than two miles because it lacked the capability to step up to high voltage levels, which was necessary for long transmissions. In simpler terms, dc systems were weak and inefficient, which is why Tesla’s superior AC system won the duel. The implementation of Tesla’s AC system had tremendous impacts on our technologies today. Almost all of our electrical power runs on alternating current and many devices operate on it. Can you imagine, what would happen if we had adopted Edison’s DC system instead? Probably, there would be a lot of problems and instability in our power.  Without Tesla innovations, electrical engineering wouldn’t be where it is today.

(Wardenclyffe Tower, Image taken from Wikipedia.org)

    Imagine if we already had wireless power transfer technology for years now. How would you be feeling right now?  The truth is we could have had wireless power technology for years now if it weren’t for J.P. Morgan. Nikola Tesla discovered that it was possible to wirelessly transfer electrical power. His project was named the Wardenclyffe Tower, which was supposed to provide free electricity throughout the world. Tesla was so close to actually proving his theory, but like with many issues money had a huge role. In 1917, J.P. Morgan cut off funds for the project because it wasn’t designed for telegraphy, but for wireless power transfer (To learn more about what happened, click HERE). Furthermore, the U.S. government destroyed the tower completely due to espionage conspiracies. Despite the major setbacks, many scientists and engineers today still refer back to his work on wireless power transfer. It’s such a shame that we weren’t able to complete the Wardenclyffe Tower, imagine how advanced we would be right now if it was constructed. 

(Image taken from Google.com)

     Electrical engineering would not have advanced so far if it weren’t for Tesla’s achievements. In many ways, Tesla laid the basic foundation for many aspects of electrical engineering. Just to name some of his achievements, he discovered: “the fluorescent light, laser beam, wireless communications, remote control, robotics, radio, etc” (Vujovic, 1998). Nikola Tesla is more than just the father of the AC electrical system; his legacy will inspire future innovations in the field of electrical engineering. 

 Want to learn more about Tesla, then check out this TED Talk HERE

References

Hui, S.Y.R.; Wenxing Zhong; Lee, C.K., "A Critical Review of Recent Progress in Mid-Range             Wireless Power Transfer," Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on , vol.29, no.9, pp.4500,4511, Sept. 2014 doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2013.2249670

Nikola Tesla. (2014). The Biography.com website. Retrieved 07:33, Jun 21, 2014, from http://www.biography.com/people/nikola-tesla-9504443.

Valone, T. (2012, June 12). Free Energy from Tesla’s Wireless Electricity. An instant solution to the planetary energy ‘crisis’. . Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://arcanumdeepsecrets.wordpress.com/2010/06/12/free-energy-from-tesla%E2%80%99s-wireless-electricity-an-instant-solution-to-the-planetary-energy-%E2%80%98crisis%E2%80%99/

Vujovic, L. (1998, July 10). Tesla's Biography. Tesla's Biography. Retrieved June 22, 2014, from http://www.teslasociety.com/biography.htm

Wireless Powering is Coming: All Cables Must Go

Current Event

It is time to break up our lengthy relationship with the beloved charging cables and say our farewells. They are just toxic and simply not working out anymore. Polluting the environment, heating up, easily broken and the list goes on and on. Don’t feel scared or shed any tears for that old thing because something better is waiting. Get ready to welcome and embrace our new relationship with WiTricity wireless powering in 2015.

(Image taken from Google.com)

   Wireless powering is expected to make its huge debut in 2015, which will impact the mobile and electronic industries tremendously. The company that is leading the charge is WiTricity, which is run by Alex Gruzen.  Don’t be mistaken that WiTricity is the only company involved with this growing technology. Companies such as Canon, Dell, Sony, Samsung and many others are all trying to get a piece of this technology. Gruzen announced that he plans to demonstrate real progress for wireless powering in 2015. What is real progress, you might ask? According to Sam Frizell, from Time magazine (Click HERE for the full article), in June 4 2014 he stated that houses could be cordless, a smartphone case could instantly charge your phone, and even future electric cars would be powered simply by parking on a charging surface. How does that all sound? It might seem like all science fiction to you, but the truth is this technology is coming and it has the power to do all of those things.

(Image taken from Washington.edu)

     Still don’t believe me, then let me elaborate more on how exactly does this technology work. The wireless powering technology will be composed of two copper coils that are coupled by magnetic waves. The power source will attach to one of the coils, often it is referred to as the powered coil. The powered coil is responsible for converting the energy to a higher voltage and frequency, which generates a magnetic field. While the receiving coil, or the coil that surrounds the object that is receiving power, is responsible for converting the magnetic field into electrical current, hence power.  This process is known as Inductive coupling and it is the reason why wireless powering is even possible. Unlike with most wireless powering technology in the current market, WiTricity technology will not require physical contact at all. You might have seen those charging pads around before, with WiTricity wireless powering your devices could already be charged in your hand or pocket. The technology itself is not hard, what’s complicated is trying to implement it into society.

(Image taken from digitaltrends.com)

Want to see an actual demonstration? Then click HERE

    So what’s the big deal with Alex Gruzen’s announcement about his plans for wireless powering? According to Cut Woodward, from Xconomy, he claimed in 2014 that “WiTricity’s technology is seen as the next-generation choice for power.” Can you imagine never seeing electrical cables and wires ever again in the next decade? Wireless powering will positively impact most of the industries: transportation, electronics, mobile, housing and more. Gruzen’s announcement marks the beginning of a technological revolution that will very soon encompass most of the world. So are you ready for the revolution and a new relationship? Or can you just not let go of the past and choose to remain in that long relationship? Either way wireless powering is coming.
 

References

Woodward, C. (2014, June 18). New WiTricity CEO: 2015 Will Show. Xconomy RSS. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://www.xconomy.com/boston/2014/06/18/new-witricity-ceo-2015-will-show-real-progress-for-wireless-power/

Frizell, S. (2014, June 4). So Long, Charging Cables: Wireless Power Is Coming. Time. Retrieved June 21, 2014, from http://time.com/2819660/witricity-wireless-power/

What the tech is the MWPT?

(Image taken from batterynews.org)

                Electrical power is not a finite source and batteries are not an efficient source for power storage. Many devices, such as implanted medical devices (IMD), rely on batteries and electricity to function. Patients have to have surgery every time to replenish the power in their batteries. Imagine how much pain they feel, physically and financially. Furthermore, even simply plugging the charger of a mobile device into a power outlet is a hassle. The medical and electronic fields are restricted and as a result we humans will have to suffer the consequences. So what is the solution to this predicament? The answer is the mid-field wireless power transmission (MWPT).

                What is the mid-field wireless power transmission? Well, the MWPT is a new form of wireless power transfer.  According to Kaur (2012), “Wireless power transmission is the transmission of electrical energy from a power source to an electrical load without a conductive physical connection or interconnecting wires.” Basically, the MWPT is a way to recharge electrical power to a device without the need of cords, hence the wireless part.  It is known as “mid-field” because the transmission distance between the power source and the load is greater than the coil resonators’ dimensions (Hui et al., 2014). This system would allow us to charge our phones without the need of physically connecting it to a power outlet. Also, patients will not have to get surgery every time to replace a depleted battery. All the patients have to do is simply be within the range of the wireless powering. Since the MWPT is so new, there are only two guidelines that regulate this technology, the International Commission on Non-Iodizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) Guidelines and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineer (IEEE) Standard (Hui et al, 2014).. Imagine how much this technology could revolutionize the medical and electronics field.

                Why is understanding this topic important? Millions of people around the world depend on medical electronic devices. Thousands of people are suffering because those devices are not functioning effectively and efficiently (Wei et al., 2008). Why? It is because of batteries. Batteries are no longer a reliable and stable source simply because the increase in energy consumption and the mobility of electronic devices has made the battery an obsolete power source (Jia et al., 2009).  Our once beloved battery can no longer provide us the power we need with our current advanced technologies. Both the medical and electronics field cannot develop further technologies because the battery limits them. But, with the implementation of the mid-field wireless power transmission systems all of that would change. This technology would eliminate the numerous limitations the electronics and medical fields have. Imagine no longer requiring a battery for anything or never seeing anymore electrical wires. How about, imagine powering an electric car without any wires; all that is needed is simply a wireless connection. The MWPT will usher in a new era of power supply and generation, which will expand both the medical and electronics field.

(Image found on digitaltrends.com)

                The mid-field wireless power transmission is extremely relevant. We are already seeing people suffer and die from inefficiencies in IMDs. IMDs save lives and maybe one day we might depend on them to survive. It is important to fix this issue now because it will help save lives and improve the medical field. Everyone has some form of electrical device, which means everyone will have to recharge power for their device. Sometimes charging can be difficult or a hassle, perhaps forgetting your phone charger. Instead of driving back home to get the charger and waste time, it would automatically be charged in a wireless connection due to the MWPT (Click Here for a article on more about this idea).  This begs the question, is the mid-field wireless power transmission the next big thing society will experience?

Want to see another post about this awesome technology then click, HERE

References

Hui, S.Y.R.; Wenxing Zhong; Lee, C.K., "A Critical Review of Recent Progress in Mid-Range Wireless Power Transfer," Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on , vol.29, no.9,   pp.4500,4511,    Sept. 2014 doi: 10.1109/TPEL.2013.2249670

Jia, D., & Liu, J. (2009). Human power-based energy harvesting strategies for mobile electronic devices. Frontiers of Energy and Power Engineering in China, 3(1), 27-46.       doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11708-009-0002-4

Wei, X., & Liu, J. (2008). Power sources and electrical recharging strategies for implantable           medical devices. Frontiers of Energy and Power Engineering in China, 2(1), 1-13. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11708-008-0016-3

Kaur, S. (2012). How is wireless power transmission going to affect our lives? IETE Technical         Review, 29(4), 259-264. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0256-4602.101305