MIT Teams Powers Light Bulb Wirelessly Using WiTricity

Scientists at MIT claim they have developed a concept to send power to a 60-watt light bulb through wireless technology, allowing the bulb to light up using a power source seven feet away. Sending power wirelessly is not a new idea, but its use has been rejected because of the output of electromagnetic energy that would radiate. The MIT scientists say they have figured out how to send the power using specially tuned waves similar to how an opera star can break a wine glass that happens to resonate at the same frequency of her voice.

The technology sounds great and is reproducible in the lab, but it’s a long ways from becoming practical. The MIT system is only 40-45 percent efficient because most of the energy from the charging device does not make it to the light bulb. Also, the copper coils used to transmit the power are 2 feet wide, which is too big for a laptop. Also, the 7 foot range needs to be increased.