Wireless power transmission by microwave

The idea of ​​transmitting electricity over long distances without using wires has existed for more than a century. In the 1970s, this technology was an important part of the design of American physicist Gerard K. O’Neil. He proposed setting up colonies in space to build stations to collect solar energy and transmit electricity back to Earth.

The US Department of Defense assigned a team of experts, led by Christopher Rodenbeck, director of the Advanced Concepts Group research organization, to develop the project of Continuous and Safe Power Transmission – Microwaves (SCOPE-M) to explore the practicality. of microwave power transmission. Using a 10-GHz microwave beam, SCOPE-M establishes two locations. The first site is the US Army Research Field facility in Blossom Point, Maryland, and the second is the Haystack Ultra-Wide Frequency Satellite Imaging (HUSIR) radar transmitter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The frequency they selected is not only capable of transmitting steadily in heavy rain with less than 5% power loss, but also safe by international standards in the presence of people, animals and birds. This means that the system does not need the circuit breakers commonly found on early laser systems.

In tests in Maryland, the microwave beam operated at 60% efficiency. The test at The Massachusetts did not reach the same peak power, but has a higher average power, which transmits more power. In the future, SCOPE-M’s technology can be used to transmit energy on Earth or from a solar power station in orbit, providing electricity to the national grid 24/7 and 365 days a year. In addition, this technology can help direct electricity to troops on the battlefield.

An Khang (According to New Atlas)