'SMART' SOLAR PALM TREES POWER WI-FI, PHONES IN DUBAI

摘要

A new species of palm tree has started sprouting around Dubai. But instead of producing dates, the fronds of the 'Smart' Palm harness the sun's energy to allow people to look up city information, access Wi-Fi, and charge their phones, all for free. Topped with nine leaf-shaped photovoltaic modules,a six-metre-tall smart palm can generate around 7.2 kW hours per day, enough to operate without ever drawing off the grid. The two prototype palms that have already been installed-one at a beach near the Burj Al Arab hotel and other at centrally located Zabeel Park-each carries a Wi-Fi hotspot, eight charging stations for phones and tablets, and a touchscreen panel giving local details on things like weather and transportation.The company behind the device, Dubai-based D Idea, feels connectivity is just the start of the smart palm's potential."Subsequent smart palms will have ATM machines and utility bill payment services,"said CEO of D Idea Viktor Nelepa. In the near future, D Idea plans to install 103 smart palms across the city of Dubai.The next generation of the device, will be created by 3D printer and have a different design. Made from a combination of fibre-reinforced plastic and concrete, the new smart palms will also be better able to withstand Dubai's tropical desert climate.