Turn the march into 'power'

Engineers at Leeds are developing a method to capture kinetic energy when soldiers march and use this energy source for their own equipment.

The new system is designed to convert energy from sincere battery power to help soldiers reduce 10kg of items they must carry on them.

This device will use high-tech ceramics and crystals such as piezoelectric converters to convert mechanical pressure into electricity.

This project will consider the best location to place this energy 'harvesting' device, including the backpack's string and around the knee so that energy can be obtained but at the same time minimizing impact when the legs are bent. down, knuckles, or when soldiers' shoes stomp on the ground.

Professor Andrew Bell, director of the Institute of Materials Research at the University of Leeds, who directed the £ 1 million research project, said: 'Apart from the environmental problem of using too many batteries, This new device reduces the weight of items to be worn by soldiers by 15%. And this technology can have many other applications. '

This project was built to meet the needs of soldiers on duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.Heavy backpacks can limit a soldier's flexibility and lead to long-term health problems.

Military groups often carry electrical equipment, including flashlights, personal radios, Bowman communication devices and a set of precautions.

Engineers at Leeds are developing a method to capture kinetic energy when soldiers march and use this energy source for their own equipment. (Photo: iStockphoto)

The total weight of an infantry device to carry on a 6-hour patrol is about 75kg , the battery alone accounts for 10kg. The necessary equipment such as ammunition and water make up most of the rest.

The idea of ​​collecting similar energy has been used on cars for a while in which the braking force is collected and then used to drive forward. However, collecting energy from the movement of people always proved very difficult due to the flexibility and the need of the material, the fact that the cycle or way of traveling is different.

Professor Bell said his team succeeded while similar projects failed because of his research using a holistic approach.

He said: 'By using the latest materials in combination with individual differences in travel, we are confident that this research will be successful'.

Another important part of the project is to integrate radio equipment to save energy. This low-power radio form will run in 'standby' mode, only operating at maximum capacity when receiving an important message.

The two-year project, which began in September this year, also involved scientists from the universities of Bristol, Essex, Liverpool, Sheffield, Southampton and Cranfield. The project is funded by the Scientific and Technical Research Council (EPSRC) and the Defense Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL).

Leeds' kinetic energy project is part of a larger research program called ' batteryless military' , which is assigned by DSTL and EPSRC, including research on transformation and storage of resources. Other energy such as solar energy or body heat.