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Intel shows off tech bubbles, low-power yacht racing and... a DIRECT solar charger

Chipzilla showcase mixes ideas with reality

Hellooo... I'm on a yacht. Yes you heard me...

On the stand, the changes in scale in computing was highlighted, with the most complete off-the-shelf new product being the Intel NUC – Next Unit of Computing. Apparently, the NUC is the new best friend of round-the-world sailor Francois Gabart. His old navigation system was on display alongside his new set-up with a NUC.

It’s the low power consumption of the NUC that attracts Gabart. His old system would use between 50W of power, going as high as 80W for some tasks. By contrast, the NUC requires 20W and stays at 20W.

Francois Gabart's test NUC set-up compared with his old navigation PC

Francois Gabart's test NUC set-up compared with his old PC – both running MaxSea navigation software

Gabart reckons in the 78 days its took him to race the world, that each extra Watt of continuous power use over that period pretty much accumulates to one litre of diesel. By drastically reducing his power consumption requirements with the NUC, he aims to shed a lot of weight from his boat and get around even faster.

Gabart was also give an Intel Education 2-in-1, a reference design convertible tablet/PC that’s also waterproof. When he opens a peer-to-peer wireless hotspot from the NUC, it enables him to access navigation information on deck, rather than going below to check things out.

You should always take tablets with water

You should always take tablets with water

While Intel waits for manufacturers to adopt its Education kit ideas, it has used the 2-in-1 reference design as a platform to demonstrate its solar charging technology. Under the banner Alternative Power Architecture (APA), the company is looking at ways of charging devices directly without needing a battery as a proxy of sorts.

In trials in Peru using a 100W solar panel, Intel’s Smart Solar Controller proved capable of directly charging four Classmate PCs.

All well and good, but it has taken things a step further by embedding the Smart Solar Controller technology into a platform. Here, that Education reference design Atom tablet/keyboard combo makes another appearance, as it can plug directly into a solar panel.

Direct charging of four Classmate PCs with the Smart Solar Controller

Direct charging of up to four Classmate PCs with the Smart Solar Controller

Built into the platform is intelligence that works out what can be drawn from the solar panel, so it can turn it on and use it when it can. Part of the problem with solar panels is that an oscillation occurs from the power that becomes available and how that drops when used under load.

The APA technology prevents oscillation and doesn’t activate power circuit and let it past the gate until there’s sufficient energy behind it. A prototype charging array was also on show that can deliver different voltages according to the type of device inserted. It’s auto-detecting so only the required power is discharged.

Some examples of Intel's Alternative Power Architecture (APA) tech

Solar examples of Intel's Alternative Power Architecture (APA) tech

So while it’s not always on, Intel reckons that its direct solar charging is the first of its kind. Whether this will become a common feature of PCs targeted at more off-the-grid countries will all come down to cost, but the idea seems sound enough, although it will rather put a damper on night school classes. ®

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