Harvesting Power- Recycling Unused 5G Internet Signals

two square blue LED lights harvesting power 5g energy

High-Speed Internet Originally

5G internet was originally created for the purpose to have high-bandwidth communication available all around the world. It is now being implemented globally and is expected to be widespread by 2025. However, 5G internet also holds yet another opportunity within it- harvesting power from its electromagnetic energy.

Harvesting Power Additionally

5G internet frequencies transmit powerful energy. One can actually harvest this energy. In a scientific report published Georgia tech team, Aline Eid, Jimmy G. D. Hester and Manos M. Tentzeris noted, “Unknowingly, the architects of 5G have, thereby, created a wireless power grid capable of powering devices at ranges far exceeding the capabilities of any existing technologies.”

As a result, the latent and unused wireless signals can actually utilize as a power source. Power, that would have otherwise been squandered, can now be used to either charge or operate a large variety of devices. Mobile phones can now potentially be created without a replaceable battery. This would make the devices even more dust and waterproof. They can also have the ability to be a portable power source to other wireless devices around them. This revolution will either replace batteries in certain devices completely or majorly increase the lifespan of the batteries.

Millimeter-Wave Harvesting Power Breakthrough

Earlier, to be able to harvest energy from frequencies created by electromagnetic radiation the rectenna had to have been pointed in the precise direction of the electromagnetic energy source. This was not practical, which is why harvesting power from electromagnetic energy sources was not yet popular.

But the researchers at Georgia Tech have had a breakthrough to this issue with their creative solution. They used the Rotman lens, which has 6 different views at the same time. And it worked! Since the Rotman lens was able to accept energy from 6 different angles it was now able to catch 21xs more electromagnetic energy coming in from different directions and then merge it all into one rectifier.

They were able to use a 3D printer to create a millimeter-wave harvesting device that is literally the size of a playing card.

3D printer-created millimeter-wave harvesting device.

Environmental Benefits

This innovation looks to be promising when it comes to helping make 5G internet more environment-friendly. By using up electromagnetic energy for power not only saves on batteries, but also uses energy that would have otherwise been wasted. Reduced battery production will reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well.

With every new innovation comes a new revelation. It sure is so with the revolutionary creation of 5G internet.

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