Friday, February 8th, 2008
Harvesting Energy From Walking
Researchers have built a device resembling a knee brace that can generate usable amounts of electrical energy as a person walks. The brace, described in an article in the journal Science, harvests the energy lost when a human brakes the knee after swinging the leg forward to take a step. Last year, scientists created a backpack frame that translated the up-and-down motion of a frame mounted backpack to electrical energy. Other researchers are studying ways to harvest energy from footsteps by means of piezoelectric devices mounted i the soles of shoes. In this segment, Ira talks to one of the creators of the new knee-mounted device about harvesting energy from human movement.
Guests
Max Donelan
Chief Science Officer, Bionic Power
Director, SFU Locomotion Laboratory
Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology
Associate Member, School of Engineering Science
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Related Links
- Telegraph.co.uk: Knee-brace gizmo to generate electricity
- BBC: Knee dynamo taps 'people power'
- Nature: Shake a leg to power your phone
Segment produced by:Karin Vergoth
Listen:
Friday, February 8th, 2008
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Biofuels
- Harvesting Energy From Walking
-
Nanoscale Radio Shows Carbon Electronics Potential
-
Tornado Outbreak
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How Much is a Trillion?
Elsewhere on Sciencefriday.com
Going Green: Energy Conservation
The Missing Memristor?
Cities Cutting Energy Use
Green Energy at Google
Honda FCX
Chevy Volt
A Better Backpack



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