Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Whale inspired blades for ocean energy harvesting

At the recent American Physical Society's Division of Fluid Dynamics meeting in California, United States Naval Academy researchers presented on underwater turbines to convert ocean tides into electricity in a presentation titled "Effect of leading edge tubercles on marine tidal turbine blades".

1st Energy Harvesting Network: part 2

The afternoon session of the Human Power Workshop part of the 1st Energy Harvesting Network as discussed in Part 1 of this article, focused on Human Powering of Devices Outside of the Body.

Storing thermal energy in chemical

The tight coupling between computational materials design and experimental synthesis and validation should further accelerate the discovery of promising new candidate solar thermal fuels.

Report from the IDTechEx Energy Harvesting and Wireless Sensor events

Last week the second annual IDTechEx Energy Harvesting & Storage USA 2010 event opened to 340 people and 28 exhibitors, up significantly from the previous year, indicative of the rising interest in the topic. The event was co-located with the IDTechEx Wireless Sensor Networks and RTLS conference, bringing together all those involved in these two industries.

Heavy duty electric land vehicles

There are about 250 manufacturers of heavy industrial vehicles worldwide but most do not make EVs. Between them they will make about 700,000 of these vehicles in 2010.

New self-assembling photovoltaic technology can keep repairing itself

New self-assembling photovoltaic technology can keep repairing itself to avoid any loss in performance

Wireless electric vehicles

At the unique IDTechEx event, "Future of Electric Vehicles" in San Jose USA December 7-8, these "sea changes" will be tracked by the experts involved in land, air and, yes, seagoing electric vehicles.

Many ways to harvest energy from shock absorbers

In the new age of the electric vehicle, almost everything has to be rethought.

Solar funnel

Using carbon nanotubes (hollow tubes of carbon atoms), MIT chemical engineers have found a way to concentrate solar energy 100 times more than a regular photovoltaic cell.

Energy harvesting and wireless sensors ready for prime time

Energy harvesting is the conversion of ambient energy into electricity to drive small or mobile electronic and electrical devices. Wireless sensors are particularly in need of energy harvesting because they are increasingly deployed in numbers and locations where hard wiring or battery changing are impracticable. We are at an exciting stage with both because harvesting is becoming better and electronics is demanding less power -so they meet in the middle.

Carbon nanotubes could soon form antennas that capture light energy

New antenna made of carbon nanotubes could make photovoltaic cells more efficient by concentrating solar energy.

Illuminex's highest-efficiency silicon nanowire array PV device

Advancements in Illuminex's patented nanowire array production process pave the way to commercial solar/photovoltaic textiles for rooftop power generation, PV textiles and other large solar power applications.

Wireless Sensor Networks: Dream and Reality

At the IDTechEx joint event Wireless Sensor Networks & RTLS USA and Energy Harvesting USA in Boston, Massachusetts November 16-17, many noteworthy advances will be announced for the first time.

Electromagnetic suspension

A paper just publishes in IEEE Transactions on Vehicular Technology proposes electromagnetic active suspension system providing additional stability and manoeuvrability by performing active roll and pitch control during cornering and braking and eliminating road irregularities.

Clothing could power batteries for military

Scientists have reported progress in using a common virus to develop improved materials for high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that could be woven into clothing to power portable electronic devices.

Robot EV water craft tackles oil spills

MIT researchers unveil autonomous oil-absorbing robot that could absorb up to 20 times its own weight in oil.

Progress with thermoelectric harvesting

At the forthcoming Energy Harvesting USA event in Boston Massachusetts, 16-17 November, Prof Gang Chen of Massachusetts Institute of Technology will talk on "Power from temperature difference: thermoelectric technology for energy harvesting".

Wind harvesting to power parking garages

HOK Architects has demonstrated that even parking garages can be environmentally progressive.