In the latest research, ways were found to harness the energy of our motion to power a remarkable array of devices and no batteries were involved. (Science Daily: Pioneering nanotechnology captures energy from people)
Michigan State University engineering researchers have created a new way to harvest energy from human motion, using a film-like device that actually can be folded to create more power. With the low-cost device, known as a nanogenerator, the scientists successfully operated an LCD touch screen, a bank of 20 LED lights and a flexible keyboard, all with a simple touching or pressing motion and without the aid of a battery.
- Science Daily
In short, you will power the device by using it. Here at the Rockhouse, we're already impressed but there's more.
Remarkably, the device also becomes more powerful when folded. "Each time you fold it you are increasing exponentially the amount of voltage you are creating," Sepulveda said. "You can start with a large device, but when you fold it once, and again, and again, it's now much smaller and has more energy. Now it may be small enough to put in a specially made heel of your shoe so it creates power each time your heel strikes the ground."
- Science Daily
Michigan State University engineering researchers have created a new way to harvest energy from human motion, using a film-like device that actually can be folded to create more power. With the low-cost device, known as a nanogenerator, the scientists successfully operated an LCD touch screen, a bank of 20 LED lights and a flexible keyboard, all with a simple touching or pressing motion and without the aid of a battery.
- Science Daily
In short, you will power the device by using it. Here at the Rockhouse, we're already impressed but there's more.
Remarkably, the device also becomes more powerful when folded. "Each time you fold it you are increasing exponentially the amount of voltage you are creating," Sepulveda said. "You can start with a large device, but when you fold it once, and again, and again, it's now much smaller and has more energy. Now it may be small enough to put in a specially made heel of your shoe so it creates power each time your heel strikes the ground."
They anticipate harvesting energy from the physics of our motion and this includes walking, etc.
Read the article for more of the mechanics of how they do it with the material they have devised but bringing that to Ithaka is more technical than it needs to get for the point.
Batteries are filled with all manner of noxious substances and are a significant problem for disposal. If those can be reduced or eliminated, there's already a major environmental win, not to mention in the economy of the devices which should get substantially less-expensive to acquire.
The interested student is advised to review the article and definitely don't wait for the journo monkeys on the pop news channels to interpret it for you. The purpose is science and not opinion, right?
Ed: who is the 'interested student?'
Me, you, anyone. This material fascinates me and I learn something every time.
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