Nikola Tesla an electrical engineer at the peak of his career became very obsessed with his idea of transmission of electricity through the air at long distances without using wires.
As things did not go to plan, Tesla’s objective for wireless electricity supply was never realized.
There were some flaws in his theory as it would have required a big amount of power, much of which would have been wasted.
Now in the present times, a research paper has proposed that the planners of the 5G network may have unwillingly built what Nikola Tesla failed to construct in his times.
Research paper suggested that small devices embedded in cars, homes, and workplaces, and factories could be charged or powered by the adaptation of a “wireless power grid”.
Now in the present times, a research paper has proposed that the planners of the 5G network may have unwillingly built what Nikola Tesla failed to construct in his times.
Research paper suggested that small devices embedded in cars, homes, and workplaces, and factories could be charged or powered by the adaptation of a “wireless power grid”.
By the use of a dense network of masts and a powerful series of antennas, it is possible that some small devices can be powered by the same infrastructure, with some tweaks. But still, there’s Tesla’s demerit of high energy wastage.
The technology used in the 5G network that is a tightly focused beam that can transmit power over relatively large without using a wire was discovered decades back.
The recent 5G technology aims to provide a 1000-fold capacity increase over the last generation i.e. 4G to make it easy for one million users to connect per square kilometre.
The engineering part of the 5G network includes 3 parts:
- Very dense networks with many more the masts
- Special antenna technology
- Inclusion of millimetre-wave (mmWave) transmission alongside the more traditional bands.
Experimenting with the 5G network:
Wireless charging is being facilitated by new types of antennas. Till now the researchers are able to beam 5G power over a relatively short distance of just 2 meters but they expect that in the future, the device will be able to transmit 6 millionths of a watt at a distance of 180 meters.
For the time being at least, 5G wireless power is unlikely to be practical for charging your mobile phone but it could charge IoT devices, like sensors and alarms, which are expected to become widespread in the future.
Challenges to providing wireless electricity.
To provide wireless power, 5G masts will consume around 31kW of energy, which is almost equivalent to 10 kettles constantly boiling water.
Scientists controverted that the 5G technology can cause cancer.
5G wireless power, is for the moment, risky. But if engineers can find more efficient ways to beam electricity through the air, it may well be that Nikola Tesla’s dream of wireless power could be realized – over 100 years since his attempts failed.
