It was just a short year ago that we went to Fulton Innovation's tiny booth at CES and
failed to get a working wireless power demo, but a lot's happened since then -- the company is at CES 2009 in force, with a much larger, swanker booth,
partners like Energizer and Motorola demoing working products, and tons of working real-world examples of the tech in action. We were particularly taken with the modded Dish DVR that automatically turned itself on and off when the remote was placed on top of it to charge up -- oh, and the remote featured super-capacitors instead of batteries that charge fully in 10 seconds. There were also a ton of cell phones (including a modded iPhone, of course),
new cooking demos featuring a blender, and a super cool Leggett & Pratt power tool charging workbench. Extremely impressive, all in all -- we're starting to think that 2009 could be the year that wireless power could really take off. Gallery below, video after the break!
P.S.- We asked if Fulton had anything to do with the Palm Pre's sexy
Touchstone wireless charger, but the guys in the booth didn't know. We'll let you know if we find anything out.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Game_playa @ Jan 8th 2009 10:59PM
NOT RELATED TO THIS ARTICLE BUT:
LOL, The Palm Pre just got announced and there are already ads for it on Engagdet.
tom @ Jan 8th 2009 11:35PM
Well, you wanna bet Palm made this product in house?
Arkenklo @ Jan 9th 2009 6:15AM
What? You mean you don't have ad-block? Who does'nt have ad-block?
Nytemare @ Jan 8th 2009 11:45PM
I can't wait until this technology comes out in full. It has so many applications!
Ahh, the future.
TheMustafa @ Jan 8th 2009 11:51PM
How efficient is this tech? Current power distribution systems are only like 50% efficient (ie, 50% of generated electricity is lost during transmission). I have a feeling this is going to make it a lot worse.
Nytemare @ Jan 8th 2009 11:55PM
Yeah, then we'll have a "floating electron" problem. Where if you step into your living room you'll get a nice zap.
That would suck.
amnoor @ Jan 9th 2009 12:06AM
I think these systems use magnetic fields and induction, like your "wireless" electric toothbrush holder.
Shane @ Jan 9th 2009 8:53PM
In an interview in 2007, they said, "we are delivering 1,500 watts through a kitchen counter at 98.6 percent efficiency." I don't know about you, but I'm pretty damn excited about this.
Source: http://www.frost.com/prod/servlet/market-insight-top.pag?docid=113297827
Keyon @ Jan 9th 2009 12:08AM
yea i'm very interested in seeing how this will manifest i think this will be one of the big things of 09 this really does have a ton of applications that it can be applied too
DarkLight @ Jan 9th 2009 12:42AM
Ooh, supercapacitors! I LOVE supercapacitors.. I think it's taking hardware designers too long to use them already (you know something is not exactly right when a new technology shows up first in the DIY scene than in the big industry - as is the case with supercaps)
But if you ask me, this kind of wireless power (ie. the kind that doesn't work on reasonably long distances) is useless. Most of the problem it solves could also be solved easier and cheaper by just setting a standard means of charging (like, for instance, USB. The only thing holding it as of now is the current capacity - but hopefully that won't be for long)
Simon @ Jan 9th 2009 6:35AM
Absolutely right - Why not just put a MiniUSB port on everything? Even devices that don't need to transfer data can use it to charge, and that way you've got one charger for everything.
Now ranged (5+ meters) wireless power in trains or airplanes, with sources placed every few meters - THAT would rock...
Hackettman @ Jan 9th 2009 10:05AM
I guess thats the road theyre going to. See surface chargers would be great for someone like me at this point and time. I have limited space and even more limited power outlets...... I would love to put my chargeable devices on a table in the room or in a drawer and just move on with my day....
But I agree distance charging would be far better......
sr @ Jan 9th 2009 2:08AM
I recommend everyone watch that eCoupled video linked to in "new cooking videos" it was so bad it was hillarious!
sr @ Jan 9th 2009 2:10AM
Why do I have a feeling that 20 years from now we'll find out that these cause cancer?
bootareen @ Jan 9th 2009 4:07AM
Haha so true!
That remote idea is pretty cool though since it will force us to put the remote on the TV if you want to turn it off. No more lost remotes and more exercise!
Bootes @ Jan 9th 2009 3:53AM
Because everything causes cancer?
Barkus @ Jan 9th 2009 5:34AM
Naysayers aside, I think tech like this has true promise. Think about how cool that would be to have one of those trick little sticky pads on your dash in your car to set your phone on but then, when you do so it charges the damn thing in the process. No more grabbing the cigarette lighter adapter either out of the console or off of the passenger floor. Granted, some might call this a beast of convenience more so than practical necessity but then again I know of people who still get the whole deer in headlights look when I blurt out phrases like "high speed internet" or "Blu-Ray Disc". So to each his/her own but I say this is merely a stepping stone, proof of concept if you will, that leads us on to bigger and better things.
iHoppipolla @ Jan 9th 2009 8:08AM
Forgive my ignorance but are those devices modded in any way?
Could I place my phone on that charger and it will just... charge?
There was that device on Engadget the other day that required an adapter to charge wirelessly.
one1082 @ Jan 9th 2009 10:49AM
It would require a special modded device
electron @ Jan 9th 2009 10:05AM
w00t a Samsung P2 :D (ok, sry, I know, Im addicted...)
alf @ Jan 9th 2009 5:53PM
what none of you have come to realize is that they're a division of alticor, inc. aka AMWAY! umm.....yeah, ok, F*CK AMWAY AND THEIR PYRAMID SCAMMING BULLSH*T!!! read on and do your own homework. AMWAY IS EVIL AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN!!!
http://antoverlord.wordpress.com/2007/08/11/amwayquixtar-evil-rich-white-men-go-to-battle/
PC800 @ Jan 10th 2009 8:56AM
Tesla revisited!
FiftyOne @ Jan 10th 2009 6:50PM
Are we going to see wireless slot car sets some time soon?
zzZoiDzz @ Feb 23rd 2009 6:01AM
I keep seeing more and more of these articles and we are actually seeing videos now too, but WHERE are the products? For crying out loud this started in 2007 and its about to be Feb of 09 and i have yet to see anything in Best Buy or Walmart or wherever..... When can i expect to see ecoupled batteries for my cell phone or when can i get a price on a ecoupled kitchen countertop?