Generating electricity while walking with loads.
We have developed the suspended-load backpack, which converts mechanical energy from the vertical movement of carried loads (weighing 20 to 38 kilograms) to electricity during normal walking [generating up to 7.4 watts, or a 300-fold increase over previous shoe devices (20 milliwatts)]. Unexpectedly, little extra metabolic energy (as compared to that expended carrying a rigid backpack) is required during electricity generation. This is probably due to a compensatory change in gait or loading regime, which reduces the metabolic power required for walking. This electricity generation can help give field scientists, explorers, and disaster-relief workers freedom from the heavy weight of replacement batteries and thereby extend their ability to operate in remote areas.
Rome
Lawrence C
LC
Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. lrome@sas.upenn.edu
Flynn
Louis
L
Goldman
Evan M
EM
Yoo
Taeseung D
TD
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D004560:Electricity; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005684:Gait; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D016138:Walking; D016474:Weight-Bearing
D002245:Carbon Dioxide