History of Wireless Electricity
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Nikola TeslaUsing an induction coil connected to two plates, a high frequency high potential alternating electrostaticfield is set up, between these two plates, electricity can be detected, in this case by exhausted fluorescent tube.
http://www.teslaradio.com/pages/wireless.htm#WIRELESS1899, Colorado Springs, transmitting 100million volts of hi-freq electricity wirelessly over 26miles, lit up 200 light bulbs and one electric motorUsing high power induction coils (Tesla coils), Tesla transmitted electricity over 26miles, the transmitting coil ionises the above atmosphere, allowing the potential difference to be conducted along it.Attempts to construct the Wardenclyffe tower (picture adjacent), to send electricity wirelessly from Long Island in American to the West Coast of the United Kingdom
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Bill Brown and Microwave Wireless
Published an article that explored the possibilities of microwaves for wireless power transmission in 1961
With an Air Force contract demonstrated the flight of a helicopter powered solely from a microwave beam in 1964.Between 1969 and 1975 Bill improved the efficiency of the transmission, until in 1975 he successfully transmitted 30kilowatts, one mile with an 84%.
It became apparent in the 1960's that lasers could be used to transmit electricity with out the use of wires, along with photovoltaic (solar cells).
Non-conductive power transfer has been in use in households for a quite a time now, General electric released an electric tooth brush in the late 1960's that uses inductive charging. Infact these days the majority of electric tooth brushes use inductive charging. There is only plastic on the bottom of the toothbrush.
Bringing it home
In the 1970's a professor by the name of Don Otto at the University of Auckland had tried unsuccessfully to power a trolley without wires, although he was able to transfer some power, it was insufficient to bring motion to the trolley.
In 1988 Professor John Boys also of the University of Auckland began to work with a new inverter an successfully powered a trolley carrying the lightest member of the team across the lab using a technology dubbed Induction Power Transfer. This ITP has been used in clean room manufacturing and is used in the production of goods such as LCD screens.
Expanded by MIT
Professor Marin Soljacic became frustrated with once again being awoken by his cell phone beeping to inform him that the battery charge was running low. He proposed the question "Wouldn't it be great if this thing charged itself?". From this him and his MIT colleagues developed a technology they coined WiTricity, an advancement on the principles used back in the 80's by Professor Boys, and an excentuation on the technology already used in many households in the form of the electric tooth brush and it's recharging base.
In 2006 the team successfully lit a 60W light bulb wirelessly at a distance of over 2 metres.
In 2006 the team successfully lit a 60W light bulb wirelessly at a distance of over 2 metres.
