Researchers Develop Super-Tiny Windmills That Can Charge Your Gadgets And Phones
Portable solar chargers aren't so out of the ordinary anymore, but minuscule windmills that can charge your phones? Now, those are something new.
By Sadho Ram — 12 Jan 2014, 03:03 PM — Updated over 10 years ago
An Indian origin researcher Smitha Rao, working with her Taiwanese professor at the University of Arlington, Texas, may have found a solution to batteries dying out in cell phones
The UT Arlington research associate and her electrical engineering professor have designed a micro-windmill that generates wind energy and may become an innovative solution to cell phone batteries constantly in need of recharging and home energy generation where large windmills are not preferred.
They have developed wind turbines so small (they measure 1.8mm at their widest), you can stick 10 of them on a grain of rice
One possible application is to embed a bunch of the Lilliputian devices onto a phone sleeve -- you can then simply hold your phone out the window or place it in front of a fan to recharge.
engadget.com
The tiny wind turbines “blend origami concepts into conventional wafer-scale semiconductor device layouts so complex 3-D moveable mechanical structures can be self-assembled from two-dimensional metal pieces utilizing planar multilayer electroplating techniques,” according to a press release.
phys.org
Unlike many micro-electrical-mechanical-system (MEMS) devices, the aerodynamic design of the nickel-alloy-based micro-windmills make the machines extremely durable.
phys.org
The windmills can endure prolonged exposure to strong winds without any fracture in the material.
“We’ve only scratched the surface on how these micro-windmills might be used,” said Rao.
forbes.comAnd to bring the baby windmill to reality, Rao and Chiao have partnered with WinMEMS Technologies Co., a Taiwanese company researching ways to build micro electro-mechanical systems
"The company was quite surprised with the micro-windmill idea when we showed the demo video of working devices," Rao said. "It was something completely out of the blue for them and their investors."
phys.org
"The micro-windmills work well because the metal alloy is flexible and Smitha's design follows minimalism for functionality." Chiao said.
An agreement has been established for UT Arlington to hold the intellectual properties while WinMEMS explores the commercialization opportunities. UT Arlington has applied for a provisional patent.
uta.eduAlthough it's still too early to say if this leads to an actual product, so cross your fingers if you dream of owning a wind farm for ants
“Imagine that they can be cheaply made on the surfaces of portable electronics, so you can place them on a sleeve for your smart phone,” said Chiao.
gizmodo.com
“When the phone is out of battery power, all you need to do is to put on the sleeve, wave the phone in the air for a few minutes and you can use the phone again.”
forbes.com