Tiny Turbine
In the world of tomorrow, charging your cell phone could be a breeze.
Last year electrical engineers J-C Chiao and Smitha Rao, and their University of Texas at Arlington team, developed a prototype of a wind turbine—half the size of a grain of rice—that could be integrated into future electronics. Made from durable metal alloy and connected by tiny wires, it would deliver a tiny burst of energy to compact devices—think smartphones, not refrigerators—that need quick juice.
It’s the latest mobile-technology idea aimed at making power outlets obsolete. Solar backpacks that charge handheld devices already exist. Next up? A new generation of wearable energy sources could include solar-powered fabrics and wind-powered hats that restoke a phone battery. —Daniel Stone
Go in the studio with photographer Adam Voorhes as he describes how he created this photo illustration.
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/next/tiny-turbines