Scientists create 'micro-windmills' that could power your cellphone

[joseephuss]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/12/5...lop-micro-windmills-recharge-your-cell-phones

Scientists create 'micro-windmills' that could power your cellphone

Researchers at the University of Texas Arlington have developed tiny "micro-windmills" so small that ten of them can fit on one grain of rice. If you were to glue a hundred of them onto a cell phone case and hold it out the window, researcher J.C. Chiao says, you could potentially revive your dead phone in just a few minutes. The 1.8mm-wide windmills look pretty fragile, but UTA says that their flexible nickel alloy components can stand up to strong winds without fracturing.

 

[CashMan]

http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/12/5...lop-micro-windmills-recharge-your-cell-phones

Scientists create 'micro-windmills' that could power your cellphone

Researchers at the University of Texas Arlington have developed tiny "micro-windmills" so small that ten of them can fit on one grain of rice. If you were to glue a hundred of them onto a cell phone case and hold it out the window, researcher J.C. Chiao says, you could potentially revive your dead phone in just a few minutes. The 1.8mm-wide windmills look pretty fragile, but UTA says that their flexible nickel alloy components can stand up to strong winds without fracturing.

I would say the #1 thing the world needs is a renewable resource to replace oil, and what they come up with is how to revive a cell phone with micro windmills....

 

[joseephuss]

I would say the #1 thing the world needs is a renewable resource to replace oil, and what they come up with is how to revive a cell phone with micro windmills....

It is a step. This type of technology could be expanded. Instead of running a whole house on the electric grid you could use a series of these micro windmills to power individual appliances, televisions, etc.

 

[yimyammer]

It is a step. This type of technology could be expanded. Instead of running a whole house on the electric grid you could use a series of these micro windmills to power individual appliances, televisions, etc.

just hang the flat screen out the window and drive around the block?

 

[joseephuss]

I have read several articles on this and the comments following each write up have been predominately negative. I just don't get the negativity. This idea isn't supposed to solve all the worlds problems. It is a good idea that needs some additional work to be truly useful. What is wrong with that? That is how many useful things in our lives have come about. Someone comes up with an idea and someone else takes said idea and expands upon it.

 

[daschoo]

just hang the flat screen out the window and drive around the block?

Probably be more likely you would attach them to the roof and have the power generated fed into your mains supply to supplement the energy received through traditional means thus bringing down costs and decreasing reliance on unsustainable resources.

 

[daschoo]

Missed the edit time so just to clarify I'm not suggesting this would be possible just now rather that it could be a potential use for this kind of technology with further development.

 

[yimyammer]

Probably be more likely you would attach them to the roof and have the power generated fed into your mains supply to supplement the energy received through traditional means thus bringing down costs and decreasing reliance on unsustainable resources.

Love it, hope it takes off!