Engineering Management Blog

Engineering Management

The Engineering Management Blog is the place for conversation and discussion about engineering and project management, technology forecasting and planning, productivity tools, and safety and security. Here, you'll find everything from application ideas, to news and industry trends, to hot topics and cutting edge innovations.
  Next in Blog: The High Performance Workplace
Close

Comments Format:






Change Mode
Close

Subscribe to Discussion:

CR4 allows you to "subscribe" to a discussion
so that you can be notified of new comments to
the discussion via email.

Close

Rating Vote:







Add Vote
2 comments
Rate Comments: Nested

Wireless Power Is Coming

Posted July 15, 2007 10:00 AM by Steve Melito
Pathfinder Tags: batteries micro power piezoelectric actuators

They said it couldn't be done! Wires and batteries for ultra-low-power sensors in many electronics applications may yet join buggy whips in the ranks of obsolete technologies. A research center in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that an array of piezoelectric actuators can harvest vibrations and turn them into electricity. The ingenious technique can provide power for sensors in both normal and harsh applications. The initial versions will provide micro-watt-level power — enough to address a variety of situations — in about five years.

The preceding article is a "sneak peek" from Engineering Management, a newsletter from GlobalSpec.To stay up-to-date and informed on industry trends, products, and technologies, subscribe to Engineering Management today.

Reply

Interested in this topic? By joining CR4 you can "subscribe" to
this discussion and receive notification when new comments are added.
taejonkwando
Power-User

Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 441
Good Answers: 20
#1

Re: Wireless Power Is Coming

07/16/2007 9:47 AM

Interesting. Converting vibrational energy to electrical energy is a clever approach to harvesting unused energy sources. I suspect someday our laptops, Ipods, cell phones and other personal electronic devices will not only unified but powered by piezoelectric devices and other alternatives such as thermoelectric conversion of our own body heat.

I have a Red Army (Soviet Union era) thermoelectric generating unit which, when placed over a campfire, will generate enough current to power a a 12 watt light. Handy to have on camping trips.

__________________
 intellectuals solve problems, geniuses prevent them ~ Einstein
Reply
cwarner7_11
Guru
Panama - Member - New Member Hobbies - CNC - New Member Engineering Fields - Marine Engineering - New Member Engineering Fields - Retired Engineers / Mentors - New Member

Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Panama
Posts: 4273
Good Answers: 213
#2

Re: Wireless Power Is Coming

07/16/2007 11:59 AM

Wouldn't it be nice if one could develop a harvester powered by the excessive accoustic energy in the environment? Attenuate the noise, and get something useful out of it as well...
Reply
Reply to Blog Entry
Have a Different Question?
2 comments

  Next in Blog: The High Performance Workplace

Advertisement

Got Something to Say?
Ask a Question
Start a Discussion

Search this Section
Education and Engineering Careers:
Go

Search this Blog
Engineering Management:
Go

Recent Blog Entries

CR4 Sections
Aerospace
BioMech & BioMed
Chemical & Material Science
Civil Engineering
Communications & Electronics
Education and Engineering Careers
Electrical Engineering
General Discussion
Instrumentation
Manufacturing
Mechanical Engineering
New Technologies & Research
Software & Programming
Sustainable Engineering
Transportation

Site Directories
Forum Directory
Blog Directory
User Group Directory
RSS Feeds

CR4 Rules of Conduct
CR4 FAQ
Site Glossary

Who's Online (82 right now)
Show Members
Advertisement