“Walking Power Generator”—Charging a Mobile Device Simply by Walking
- Technological fields
- Terminal, Software Technologies
- Keyword
- Power generation
- Ubiquitous
- Mobile device
- Laboratory organization
- NTT Energy and Environment Systems Laboratories
Overview
Electrical power can be generated anytime, anywhere by simply walking while wearing the generator system. Liquid-containing tanks, a turbine, and a generator are fitted in the soles of shoes. During walking, the underside tank is trodden on, in turn, by the toes and the heels. As a result, the liquid inside the tank is flushed through the turbine, thereby generating an electric current. Since there is no CO2 emission, electricity generation using this technology is environmentally friendly.
Features
- An electric current is generated when the liquid is flushed through the turbine by the foot pressure exerted during walking.
- A high efficient technology to convert kinetic energy of a person to electrical energy.
- An average of 0.8 W electricity (latest figure; approximately equal to that needed for telephone call using a mobile phone) is generated.
- This technology generates about tenfold electricity larger than the energy generation technology using a piezoelectric element.
Application scenarios
- Preventing the flat battery while traveling, commuting or having business activities.
- Eliminating the running out battery while using musical players, digital camera, and navigator system for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, etc.
- A “shoe power source” equipped with new functions like GPS, LED lights, heaters, and RF-IDs can be used.
