Wireless Electricity Imagine a future in which wireless power transfer is feasib

Question

Wireless Electricity

Imagine a future in which wireless power transfer is feasible: cell phones, MP3 players, laptop computers and other portable electronics capable of charging themselves without ever being plugged in, finally freeing us from the power cord. Some of these devices might not even need their bulky batteries to operate.

Scientists have known for nearly two centuries how to transmit electricity without wires, and the phenomenon has been demonstrated several times before. But it was not until the rise of personal electronic devices that the demand for wireless power materialized. In the past few years, at least three companies have debuted prototypes of wireless power devices, though their distance range is relatively limited. Thanks to wireless technology, researchers at MIT extended the wi-fi concept to allow the beaming of power to anything that uses electricity. The MIT scientists successfully powered a 60-watt light bulb from a power source seven feet away. The team called their invention WiTricity, short for “wireless electricity.”

The first wireless powering system to market is an inductive device that looks like a mouse pad and can send power through the air, over a distance of up to a few inches. A powered coil inside the pad creates a magnetic field, which induces current to flow through a small secondary coil that’s built into any portable device, such as a flashlight, a phone, or a BlackBerry. The electrical current that then flows in that secondary coil charges the device’s onboard rechargeable battery. Although many portable devices, such as the iPhone, have yet to be outfitted with this tiny coil, a number of companies are about to introduce products that are.

The practical benefit of this approach is huge. You can drop any number of devices on the charging pad, and they will recharge—wirelessly. No more tangle of power cables or a jumble of charging stations. What’s more, because you are invisible to the magnetic fields created by the system, no electricity will flow into you if you stray between device and pad. Nor are there any exposed “hot” metal connections. And the pads are smart with built-in coils which know if the device sitting on them is authorized to receive power, or if it needs power at all. So car keys won’t be charged or the flashlight overcharged.

One of the dominant players in this technology is Michigan-based Fulton Innovation. Fulton’s new pad-based system, called eCoupled, will be available to police, fire-and-rescue, and contractor fleets—an initial market of as many as 700,000 vehicles annually. The system is being integrated into a truck console to allow users to charge anything from a compatible rechargeable flashlight to a PDA. The tools and other devices now in the pipeline at companies such as Bosch, Energizer, and others will look just like their conventional ancestors. Companies such as Philips Electronics, Olympus, and Logitech will create a standard for products, from flashlights to drills to cell phones to TV remotes.

Applications

Wireless power transfer technology can be applied in a wide variety of applications and environments. The ability of the technology to transfer power safely, efficiently, and over distance can improve products by making them more convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly. Wireless power transfer technology can be used to provide:

Direct wireless power—when all the power a device needs are provided wirelessly and no batteries are required. This mode is a device that is always used within a range of its power source.

Automatic wireless charging—when a device with rechargeable batteries charges itself while still in use or at rest, without requiring a power cord or battery replacement. This mode is for a mobile device that may be used both in and out of range of its power source.

Consumer Electronics

Automatic wireless charging of mobile electronics (phones, laptops, game controllers, etc.) in home, car, office, wi-fi hotspots while devices are in use and mobile.

Direct wireless powering of stationary devices (flat screen TVs, digital picture frames, home theater accessories, wireless loudspeakers, etc.) eliminating expensive custom wiring, unsightly cables and power supplies.

Direct wireless powering of desktop PC peripherals: wireless mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, display, etc., eliminating disposable batteries and awkward cabling.

Industrial

Direct wireless power and communication interconnections across rotating and moving “joints” (robots, packaging machinery, assembly machinery, machine tools) eliminating costly and failure-prone wiring.

Direct wireless power and communication interconnections at points of use in harsh environments (drilling, mining, underwater, etc.) where it is impractical or impossible to run wires.

Direct wireless power for wireless sensors, eliminating the need for expensive power wiring or battery replacement and disposal.

Automatic wireless charging for mobile robots, automatic guided vehicles, cordless tools, and instruments eliminating complex docking mechanisms and labor-intensive manual recharging and battery replacement.

Transportation

Automatic wireless charging for existing electric vehicle classes: golf carts, industrial vehicles.

Automatic wireless charging for future hybrid and all-electric passenger and commercial vehicles, at home, in parking garages, at fleet depots, and at remote kiosks.

Direct wireless power interconnections to replace costly vehicle wiring harnesses.

Other Applications

Direct wireless power interconnections and automatic wireless charging for implantable medical devices (pacemaker, defibrillator, etc.).

Automatic wireless charging for high-tech military systems (battery-powered mobile devices, covert sensors, unmanned mobile robots, and aircraft, etc.).

Direct wireless powering and automatic wireless charging of smart cards.

Direct wireless powering and automatic wireless charging of consumer appliances, mobile robots, etc.1

Questions

1. Explain the fundamentals of wireless power transfer technology.

2. Describe the business benefits of using wireless electricity.

3. Identify two types of business opportunities companies could use to gain a competitive advantage using wireless electricity.

4. What are some other creative uses of wireless electricity not mentioned in the case?

5. How would a wireless power distribution network operate similar to cell networks?

Explanation / Answer

This is a very interesting article that you should read. I will help you with the key points for each of the questions:

1. Explain the fundamentals of wireless power transfer technology.

Wireless power transfer technology works on the principle of resonance. What happens is, you have two coils: one is the transmitter (connected to a power source), and a second coil is the receiver. Both are tuned so that the power transfer happens in the most efficient manner. The transmitter creates a magnetic field, which induces a current in the receiver which charges the device in question

2. Describe the business benefits of using wireless electricity.

The benefits are many. Factory set ups can avoid costly and dangerous wiring set ups by simply setting up wireless electricity. Kilometers of wiring can be avoided in factories and machines will be able to run with just wireless electricity, which not only makes operations more efficient, but also makes the entire setup a safer place. Another key advantage you do not need labour to keep charging all the equipment like sensors, and you can also do away with docking stations. All of this results in a lot of financial benefits for the business.

3. Identify two types of business opportunities companies could use to gain a competitive advantage using wireless electricity.

Business oppprtunities for companies are multiple. For one, companies could gain a lot of real estate by eliminating wiring. This would also result in savings for the company, which can be used to an advantage by the company by using this to competitively price their offerings. Secondly, companies could gain a lot in terms of labour productivity, as a lot of menial and repetitive tasks around charging/docking equipment can be completely avoided using wireless electricity. This allows for the business to use their labour more productively, which results in higher financial results

4. What are some other creative uses of wireless electricity not mentioned in the case?

Two key interesting use cases of electricity which comes to my mind are: Wireless medical equipment. In hospitals, you have lots of medical equipment which are wired, and you need to lie down on a bed because of all the wiring that the equipment needs. Going forward, you might see mobile, or even compact medical equipment which can do a lot of complex health saving activities! Secondly, I also see wireless electricity being used for trains - in today's world, many trains in emerging countries are run using overhead electricity lines. With wireless electricity, this could change and trains could run without wires hanging overhead

5. How would a wireless power distribution network operate similar to cell networks?

The answer to this lies primarily in the first question. You would need a transmitting tower which is connected to a power source - this would create a magnetic field which would be received by the respective receiver (you can have repeaters in between) which creates a current in the receiving tower which can be used for whatever purpose it is intended for.

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