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SHORT NEWS

Wind energy in miniature

#alternative energy #electronics #sensors #technology #wind power

Scientists in Singapore have developed a low-cost device that can harness the energy of light breezes and store it as electricity.

NTU professor Yang Yaowen with the device that harnesses wind energy.

At a wind speed of just two metres per second, the device can generate a voltage of three volts and an electrical output of up to 290 microwatts. This is enough to power a standard sensor device and send the data to a mobile phone or computer.

The lightweight and robust device, a so-called wind harvester, also diverts the electricity it does not need into a battery where it can be stored. In this way, devices can be operated even when there is no wind.

Wind energy for light-emitting diodes and sensors

According to the research team at Nanyang Technological University, the invention has the potential to replace batteries for powering light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and sensors for monitoring the condition of buildings. These are used on urban structures such as bridges and skyscrapers to monitor their structural condition and alert engineers to problems such as instability or physical damage.

Measuring just 15 by 20 centimetres, the device can be easily attached to the sides of buildings and would be ideal for urban environments.

Written by: as

Photos: NTU

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a baby in a newborn ward

AI diagnoses heart defects in babies

An artificial intelligence (AI) developed by Zurich researchers recognises a specific heart defect in newborns. According to the researchers, it has the potential to reduce the number of missed diagnoses of pulmonary hypertension.
April 29th, 2024
the new robot can mimic the softness of materials

Robot reproduces the softness of materials

A new robot can precisely mimic the softness of various materials. In future, medical students could use it to practise detecting malignant tumours or researchers could feel the softness of an object in space.
May 6th, 2024
PEBE

Are CO2 absorbers the saviors of the climate crisis?

In the fight against climate change, gigatons of carbon dioxide will have to be removed from the atmosphere over the course of the century - using so-called carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies are giving people new hope.
June 12th, 2024
pedestrians at a zebra crossing

New car camera detects pedestrians 100 times faster

A new type of car camera recognises obstacles 100 times faster than previous driver assistance systems. In future, this technology should help to brake cars in good time if a pedestrian suddenly runs into the road.
August 5th, 2024
Pedestrians walk on planks across a flooded square in Switzerland.

Climate change causes global economy to shrink significantly

According to a new forecast, the global economy is at risk of shrinking by around a fifth by the middle of the century due to climate change.
August 19th, 2024