WiTricity - Wireless Electricity

Our  forefathers marveled  at  the  invention  of  glowing  light  bulbs  by
Thomas  Edison  in  1879.  However,  to  us  21st  centurions,  the  light
bulb  is  nothing  out  of  the  ordinary.  When  computers,  cellphones,
laptops, iPods, etc. were invented our antennas tweaked. Now this is
what  you  call  invention!  However,  as  time's  progressing  we  are
getting used  to  these devices.  In  fact, charging all  these appliances
has become so very cumbersome. 

What is WiTricity  

WiTricity is nothing but wireless electricity. Transmission of electrical
energy  from one object  to another without  the use of wires  is called
as WiTricity. WiTricity will ensure that the cellphones, laptops, iPods
and other power hungry devices get charged on their own, eliminating
the need of plugging them in. Even better, because of WiTricity some
of the devices won't require batteries to operate. 

 
 

What's the Principle behind WiTricity

WiTricity  -  Wireless  Electricity,  these  words  are  simpler  said  than
done.  The  concept  behind  this  fascinating  term  is  a  little  complex.
However, if you want to understand it, try and picture what I state in
the next few lines. Consider two self resonating copper coils of same
resonating  frequency  with  a  diameter  20  inches  each. One  copper
wire  is  connected  to  the  power  source  (WiTricity  transmitter), while
the other copper wire is connected to the device (WiTricity Receiver).

The Brain behind WiTricity 

Prof.  Marin  Soljacic  from  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology
(MIT),  is  the one who has proved  that magnetic coupled  resonance
can be utilized in order to transfer energy without wires. What's even
more  interesting  is  how  he  came  about  this  idea.

Why was WiTricity not Developed before?

 It  is often said  'necessity  is  the best  teacher' and can be applied  in
this  case  as  well.  Only  in  this  century,  has  the  need  for  wireless
electricity emerged so rapidly, spearheaded by the agony caused by
the  cumbersome  charging  of  endless  devices.  Earlier  people  didn't
need it, so they didn't think about it.

What's the Future of WiTricity

MIT's WiTricity is only 40 to 45% efficient and according to Soljacic,
they  have  to  be  twice  as  efficient  to  compete  with  the  traditional
chemical batteries. The team's next aim is to get a robotic vacuum or
a laptop working, charging devices placed anywhere in the room and
even  robots  on  factory  floors.  The  researchers  are  also  currently
working  on  the  health  issues  related  to  this  concept  and  have  said
that  in  another  three  to  five  years  time,  they  will  come  up  with  a
WiTricity system for commercial use. 

Applications

The concept can be used to lighten the weight of an Formula 1 car and reduce expenditure on lightening of an aircraft using no wires and many more.....