The uBeam FAQ

[Delta]

If VC's want to spend money on further development, let them. They're not crowdfunding backers who need defending.

I don't take the line that all VCs are evil and nasty-wasty amd horrid, so I don't like to see them waste money any more than crowdfunders.  For one, That could be your pension they are investing, and for two, every penny wasted on bullshit like this is a penny that can't be invested in the next decent project to come along.

Although one would hope that VCs would do a bit more investigation of claims than some idiot hipster sat in front of IGG...

[EEVblog]

I don't take the line that all VCs are evil and nasty-wasty amd horrid, so I don't like to see them waste money any more than crowdfunders.  For one, That could be your pension they are investing, and for two, every penny wasted on bullshit like this is a penny that can't be invested in the next decent project to come along.

+1

I'll fight for a VC firms right to invest in any batshit crazy idea they like, provided it's their money.
But it may very well be innocent people's money who rely on them to do proper due diligence though, and cut losses when they know they have a turkey on their hands.

[georgesmith]

(that's not a Photoshop; Perry actually made that card)

[coppice]

What relevance does that have to what I said? This idea has deep seated problems that won't go away. Most engineers can see that. However, when you use words like "impractical", and talk about "chasing unicorns" most people don't hear "ridiculous". They hear "needs further development".

I think you need to look up "impractical" in the dictionary.

Maybe you should look it up. Its far too broad a word to be using the way Dave does. He has specific intent, and he needs to express that. Some of us try to.

[EEVblog]

What relevance does that have to what I said? This idea has deep seated problems that won't go away. Most engineers can see that. However, when you use words like "impractical", and talk about "chasing unicorns" most people don't hear "ridiculous". They hear "needs further development".

I think you need to look up "impractical" in the dictionary.

Maybe you should look it up. Its far too broad a word to be using the way Dave does. He has specific intent, and he needs to express that. Some of us try to.

Excuse me for not being a linguistical poet ninja and master of the Queens English.
How about you amaze us with the word you'd use?

[EEVblog]

I don't understand uBeam well enough to comment too deeply but I could see that perhaps they could develop new more efficient transducers or antennas or amplifiers. Who really knows? They basic idea may be impractical but if they have a core of smart people and money something may come of it.

That is the only exit for them. To spin off the tech into some niche app before the whole mobile phone charging idea goes belly-up.
I suspect they won't be able to do that with Perry in charge though, she's the true believer.
Either way someone will likely gobble up the tech, maybe for pennies on the dollar.
They have a class 100 clean room apparently, and no doubt some leading edge ultrasonic beamforming tech.

[EEVblog]

(that's not a Photoshop; Perry actually made that card)

She did indeed offer me a tour.

[mikeselectricstuff]

Kickstarter to send Dave to LA? 

[EEVblog]

Kickstarter to send Dave to LA? 

I'd probably immediately get that same nauseous feeling I get when I enter a church.

[mikeselectricstuff]

So looks like I'm not getting an invite antime soon....

[mikeselectricstuff]

Kickstarter to send Dave to LA? 

I'd probably immediately get that same nauseous feeling I get when I enter a church.

And doubtles a ridiculous NDA...

[Delta]

Take something to settle your stomach and accept her offer.  Come on Dave, call her bluff.  It's a win all round.

[EEVblog]

I do find it very convenient timing that mere minutes after I tweet that I'm thinking about doing a debunking video on uBeam, that she contacts me being all nice with an offer of a tour.
If I was cynical I'd say she's a tad nervous about a debunking video going out to 300,000 subscribers 
Don't blame her though, uBeam copped a public flogging in Lee Gomes's excellent IEEE article.
If I was her I'd be in firefighting mode.

[EEVblog]

Dave, is just just having a lie down and deciding to not bother an option?

Yeah, it's a real option. The video would actually require a lot of work researching various stuff and would be a big editing effort. Not something I could complete in day, which is my usual enthusiasm bar for videos. A lot more than just a blab with me shouting it's a load of bunk.

[mikeselectricstuff]

I think the only remaining angle is "Ubeam could work but is still stupid"
Start with "ultrasonic charging is completely possible" and show a simple demo with 2 U/S transducers, charging a small capacitance to flash a LED.
Then go through all the reasons why it doesn't scale, including that even if all the tech could be made to work, other issues like needing a dongle because phone makers will never build it in make it pointless.

[EEVblog]

Then go through all the reasons why it doesn't scale, including that even if all the tech could be made to work, other issues like needing a dongle because phone makers will never build it in make it pointless.

And then the dongle doesn't work phone face up on the table, or held in your hand, and at best under ideal totally clear line of sight conditions based on the best marketing numbers they can muster, can only deliver 1.5W at 4m at a ridiculously low efficiency that would destroy the planet if it was used on a global scale.

[Howardlong]

What relevance does that have to what I said? This idea has deep seated problems that won't go away. Most engineers can see that. However, when you use words like "impractical", and talk about "chasing unicorns" most people don't hear "ridiculous". They hear "needs further development".

I think you need to look up "impractical" in the dictionary.

Maybe you should look it up. Its far too broad a word to be using the way Dave does. He has specific intent, and he needs to express that.

I did. There's no doubt in what's being said in context, but evidentially for some reason best known to yourself I can only conclude that you're being deliberately vexatious and deliberately misconstruing what's being said.

Some of us try to.

Well, you're not doing a very good job of it, the only obvious thing I can see you expressing is deliberate misunderstanding.

[Fungus]

Dave, is just just having a lie down and deciding to not bother an option?

Yeah, it's a real option. The video would actually require a lot of work researching various stuff and would be a big editing effort. Not something I could complete in day, which is my usual enthusiasm bar for videos. A lot more than just a blab with me shouting it's a load of bunk.

OTOH it might be good if tech journals had a regular go-to place for debunking.

[GNU_Ninja]

Some links for your amusement and edification ... The Spectrum article is somewhat critical of uBeam's claims, the other links are just some general stuff on ultrasound power delivery. Enjoy 

https://workspace.imperial.ac.uk/opticalandsemidev/Public/Publications/Ultrasonic%20vs.%20Inductive.pdf

http://phys.org/news/2013-12-method-wirelessly-recharging-medical-device.html

http://www.ktu.lt/ultra/journal/pdf_50_1/50-2004-Vol.1_09-A.Vladisauskas.pdf

http://spectrum.ieee.org/consumer-electronics/portable-devices/experts-still-think-ubeamrsquos-throughtheair-charging-tech-is-unlikely

[AF6LJ]

I do find it very convenient timing that mere minutes after I tweet that I'm thinking about doing a debunking video on uBeam, that she contacts me being all nice with an offer of a tour.
If I was cynical I'd say she's a tad nervous about a debunking video going out to 300,000 subscribers 
Don't blame her though, uBeam copped a public flogging in Lee Gomes's excellent IEEE article.
If I was her I'd be in firefighting mode.

Firefighting mode only works when you can put the fire out.

She has a fire in a coal mine and the smart thing to do is to admit it is not practical and walk away. (maybe pick up a year's worth of physics classes at the local JC.)

The idea of wireless charging and power distribution is sexy but isn't going to happen with our current knowledge of physics, maybe not at all but who knows..

[Delta]

Is there any way to make some money from the inevitable failure of this ludicrous project?
Like those crazy stock market dudes do when they short-sell shares?

[Fungus]

Is there any way to make some money from the inevitable failure of this ludicrous project?
Like those crazy stock market dudes do when they short-sell shares?

It's a private company, so.... no.

Not unless you can find somebody willing to make a private bet against you.

[Delta]

Is there any way to make some money from the inevitable failure of this ludicrous project?
Like those crazy stock market dudes do when they short-sell shares?

It's a private company, so.... no.

Not unless you can find somebody willing to make a private bet against you.

Can I interest anyone in a private bet? 

[timb]

So looks like I'm not getting an invite antime soon....

That's a great picture of her. She has that desperate look of quite contemplation and fear that only someone about to have a barbed pine cone removed from their ass could muster.

[GNU_Ninja]

Looks like they're hiring. http://ubeam.com/career/ Anybody feel up to the 'challenge'