Generate electricity: Just walk

The study by scientists at the University of Michigan (UM) has created a human knee-ring that is capable of generating enough electricity to operate a handheld GPS locator, an electric one. voice, an articulated joint, or an implantable neurotransmitter. All the wearer needs to do is walk.

The report on this device was published in the February 8 edition of Science magazine. The author of this work includes researchers from Simon Fraser University, Canada, University of Pittsburgh and University of Michigan.

According to Arthur Kuo, Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UM and one of the authors of the project, the device works similarly to a modified brake for charging hybrid vehicles. Improved brakes collect the energy that generates heat when the car decelerates. This type of knee-ring bracelet collects energy lost when people stop their knees after putting their feet forward to walk.

Kuo thinks that the knee joint (artificial) is especially suitable for this device . 'People can collect energy from many parts of the body and utilize that energy to generate electricity. The knee is the most ideal place. When traveling, people waste energy in many places, such as when the feet touch the ground. We have to compensate for this by working with muscles. '

A bioenergy device consists of an aluminum frame and a motor mounted on the knee at an orthopedic pillow.This device weighs about 1.5kg.(Photo: News.com)

Kuo said: 'The body is very skillful. Where energy can be wasted, it stores that energy and regains it as elastic. Your ligament is similar to a spring. In some places, we are not sure whether the energy source is being lost or being stockpiled. We believe that when you decelerate your knees while you're about to finish your legs, most of that energy is wasted. '

This pillow was tested on 6 men walking on the table running at 1.5m / sec (2.2 miles / hour). They measure the tester's breathing rate to determine how hard they are working. Another group with this ring has no incentive to calculate the weight of the ring about 1.5kg affecting the carrier.

When the ring is set to activate only when the knee brakes, the test participant only needs less than 1 watt of metabolic energy to produce 1 watt of power . A hand-operated generator costs about 6.4 watts of metabolic energy to generate 1 watt of electricity due to muscle inefficiencies and generators.

(Photo: News.com)

Kuo said: 'We have illustrated the idea. The prototype device is bulky and heavy and it affects the wearer when in use. But the electric generator has little effect on the wearer whether it is turned on or not. We hope to improve the device to make it easier to use and still retain its energy collection capability. '

A lighter version will be useful for hikers or the military, who don't always have the power available. A similar mechanism can be fitted to an artificial knee or other implant devices such as a pacemaker or battery-powered neurotransmitter and replaces periodic surgeries to replace the battery.

Kuo believes: 'A future energy collector can be implanted with these devices and people just need to operate it by walking.'

(Photo: News.com)