“Perpetuum mobile” is not technically possible, but…
#perpetuum #mobile #energy #harvesting
Perpetuum mobile is a hypothetic machine that can work without energy source. Its idea was grabbing attention of ancient and medieval scholars almost as much as lead transmutation into gold. However, without success. Both phenomenon are against physics and cannot take place. People tried to mimic perpetuum mobile by using up energy sources that seems to be vast and surrounding us.
Energy harvesting becomes a key element of modern economy
A good example of this approach are photovoltaic cells, which use solar irradiation given us for free. So far, there are such solutions as thermoelectrics, piezoelectrics or dynamo like electromagnetic systems. All of them, could serve as stand alone small energy harvesting systems and (semi #perpetuum #mobile). For their operation they require only presence of heat transfer (temperature differences, force or vibrations) for #energy #harvesting.
Electromagnetic waves of GSM network – another energy source for free
Nowadays, we can spot another pseudo perpetuum mobile that utilizes all kind of electromagnetic waves like GSM networks. At the beginning, the development of cellular networks was oriented on covering whole inhabited areas. In fact, this trend was driven by commercial need to address all potential users. Increasing in time need for higher data transfer and better quality of calls push market forward. As a result, the GSM networks come with denser structures and higher levels of the radiated energy. These levels are sufficient to run small electrical devices only with the energy harvesting of electromagnetic waves. In fact, we are witnessing the eruption of youtube movies showing this generator concept in practice.
Commercial use of GSM energy harvesting
However, some of them wrap it up and started to offer a commercial product, like Wiliot offering “first battery-free Bluetooth sticker”. As a first battery-free sticker, I doubt, but the idea makes possible to utilize broadly the vast source of electromagnetic energy around us for free. Wiliot proposes to use those stickers for positioning purposes and also as temperature or pressure (weight) sensing devices that do not require any supply of energy to operate. With these stickers beacons can be easily placed (without the need of remembering to take care of them) wherever there is a need with one limit – in the area where electromagnetic irradiation is present.