Many new methods of charging electronic devices are being developed and released, with portable solar panels being widely implemented as of yet. But minuscule windmills that can charge your phones?
A couple of UT Arlington researchers, Smitha Rao and J.C. Chiao, have developed wind turbines so small (they measure 1.8mm at their widest), you can stick 10 of them on a grain of rice.
A possible application it to build them into the phone sleeves. You then simply hold your phone out the window or place it in front of a fan to recharge. The windmills are made of durable nickel alloy, so they are extremely difficult to break. Although it’s still too early to say if this leads to an actual product, a Taiwanese company is already exploring commercial opportunities.
Source: University of Texas Arlington
