Researchers Develop Micro-Windmills to Recharge Cell Phones
Posted on January 10, 2014
A University of Texas at Arlington research associate and electrical engineering professor have created a micro-windmill that generates wind energy. The device is just 1.8 mm at its widest point. A single grain of rice could hold ten of the teensy windmills. One of the windmills is pictured above on the face of a penny.
The researchers, Smitha Rao and J.C. Chiao, say the micro-windmills could be used to charge cell phone batteries by embedding hundreds of them in a cell phone sleeve. The scientists say you could then recharge the phone by waving it in the air or holding it up to an open window on a windy day.
Dr. Rao said in a statement, "Imagine that they can be cheaply made on the surfaces of portable electronics, so you can place them on a sleeve for your smart phone. When the phone is out of battery power, all you need to do is to put on the sleeve, wave the phone in the air for a few minutes and you can use the phone again."
