How Wireless Energy From Space Could Power Everything | Ali Hajimiri | TED

Summary

The speaker envisions a future where wireless energy transfer mirrors the accessibility of wireless data, discussing the concept of energy transmission through synchronized waves and interference. They explore the practical applications, such as powering devices in a room or a battery-less drone, and the ambitious idea of collecting solar energy in space and beaming it to Earth. The presentation highlights technological advancements like flexible, deployable structures for space-based solar power stations, demonstrating the potential of wireless energy to revolutionize power distribution and access.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Data and energy are the primary currencies of modern life, with data transitioning from wired to wireless, democratizing access to information.
• 🔌 The speaker envisions a similar democratization of energy through wireless energy transfer, eliminating the need for physical energy cables.
• 🌊 The concept of wireless energy transfer is based on the principle of waves, including acoustic waves, light, and RF waves, which are all integral to daily life.
• 🤝 Interference of waves with the same frequency can either amplify or cancel each other out, depending on their phase, which is a fundamental aspect of wireless energy transfer.
• 📍 By controlling the timing of wave interactions, it's possible to direct energy in specific directions without any physical movement.
• 🔎 The idea of focusing energy to a single point, similar to how a magnifying glass focuses sunlight, is used to concentrate wireless energy transfer.
• 🐜 The technology involves an array of synchronized electronic chips and antennas working in unison, like an 'army of ants,' to transmit energy efficiently.
• 💡 Practical demonstrations include a generator unit wirelessly powering LED panels and light bulbs, showing precise energy delivery to desired locations.
• 🚀 The concept extends to powering devices like drones without batteries, utilizing the same wireless energy transfer principles.
• 🌍 The potential applications of wireless energy transfer are vast, including space-based solar panels sending energy to Earth, overcoming limitations of traditional solar power.
• 🛰️ The speaker discusses the challenges of traditional space-based energy collection and proposes a new approach using flexible, rollable solar panel structures for easier deployment.
• 🚀 The 'Maple' technology demonstrator is a proof of concept for wireless power transfer in space, combining flexible structures with electronic circuitry for efficient energy generation and transmission.

Q & A

What are the two major currencies of our lives today mentioned in the script?

The two major currencies of our lives today mentioned in the script are energy and data.

How has the transition from wired to wireless data impacted society?

The transition from wired to wireless data has helped democratize access to information by making it more accessible and convenient.

What is the dream of wireless energy transfer as described in the script?

The dream of wireless energy transfer is to send energy when and where we want, as much as we want, potentially eliminating the need for physical wires to transmit energy.

What role do waves play in the concept of wireless energy transfer?

Waves, specifically electromagnetic waves, are essential to wireless energy transfer. They are used to transmit energy through processes like interference and synchronization.

How does the interference of waves with the same frequency work when they meet in space?

When two waves of the same frequency meet in space, they add up to form a wave that is twice the height and carries four times the energy if they are in phase, or they cancel each other out if they are out of phase.

What is the significance of synchronization in the context of directing energy in a specific direction?

Synchronization is crucial for directing energy in a specific direction. By having multiple sources of waves synchronized, the energy can be focused and directed towards a particular point, rather than being dispersed.

How does the concept of a 'magnifying glass' relate to wireless energy transfer?

The 'magnifying glass' concept refers to a focusing system in wireless energy transfer that can concentrate a large portion of the energy at a specific focal point, which can be controlled and changed by adjusting the timing of the wave sources.

What are the integrated circuits mentioned in the script, and how do they contribute to wireless energy transfer?

The integrated circuits mentioned in the script are electronic chips designed to generate a small amount of power. When working in perfect synchronization as a group, they drive antennas to transmit energy, creating focal points for energy transfer.

Can you explain the example of the generator unit and its wireless power transfer capabilities as shown in the script?

The generator unit in the script is capable of wirelessly transmitting power to receivers, such as LED panels or light bulbs. It can dynamically track and send energy to the new location of a moving object, demonstrating well-defined focal points and efficient energy transfer.

What is the potential application of wireless energy transfer for powering a drone as described in the script?

The script describes a battery-less drone that is powered purely by a wireless energy generator. The system can track the drone's movement and adjust the energy transfer accordingly, allowing for continuous power supply without physical connections.

What is the idea of placing solar panels in space for energy collection and wireless transmission to Earth?

The idea involves placing photovoltaic solar panels in space to collect energy, which can then be wirelessly transmitted to Earth. This concept offers the benefits of constant energy collection due to the lack of day and night cycles, clouds, and atmospheric absorption in space.

What are the challenges associated with traditional approaches to space-based solar power generation?

Traditional approaches to space-based solar power generation face challenges such as the high cost of sending large structures to space, the complexity and expense of assembling massive structures in space, and the limitations of current space assembly capabilities.

How does the script propose overcoming the challenges of space-based solar power generation?

The script proposes using flexible, fabric-like structures made possible by integrated and flexible electronics. These lightweight structures can be rolled and packed for launch, then deployed in space to form a constellation that functions as a power station for wireless energy transmission to Earth.

What is the 'Maple' technology demonstrator mentioned in the script, and what does it demonstrate?

The 'Maple' technology demonstrator is a proof of concept that showcases the capabilities of flexible structures and electronic circuitry to generate and transmit power in space. It was integrated with other technology demonstrators for deployable structures and photovoltaics and launched as a satellite to demonstrate wireless power transfer in space.

What is the potential impact of wireless energy transfer on democratizing access to energy?

Wireless energy transfer has the potential to democratize access to energy by providing dispatchable and always-available power to remote locations, disaster-stricken areas, or places with damaged or non-existent power infrastructure, such as remote villages in sub-Saharan Africa or areas above the Arctic circle.