Design Article
10 energy harvesting solutions for 2012
Anne-Francoise Pele
12/14/2012 12:15 PM EST
Wearable human motion energy harvester

Jacket with the electrical generator
There is shown in Figure 1.a - set of flat spiral shaped coils, b - location of the inductive elements, c – location of the magnet, d – permanent magnet
Researchers from Riga Technical University, in Latvia, have developed a mechanical energy harvester for generating electricity during human walking. Our device has a planar structure. Electrodynamic converter consists of flat, spiral-shaped coils and a rectangular or an arc-shaped magnet, and all elements can be deployed on a variety of clothing items. During the natural human motions, the generator elements move in relation to one another and induce the pulses of voltage inside the flat inductor.
The prototype was tested with the wearer walking at different speeds of 3, 4, 5 and 6 km/hr which, according to the researchers, corresponds to the slow, normal and quick walking of a middle-aged man.

Jacket with the electrical generator
There is shown in Figure 1.a - set of flat spiral shaped coils, b - location of the inductive elements, c – location of the magnet, d – permanent magnet
Researchers from Riga Technical University, in Latvia, have developed a mechanical energy harvester for generating electricity during human walking. Our device has a planar structure. Electrodynamic converter consists of flat, spiral-shaped coils and a rectangular or an arc-shaped magnet, and all elements can be deployed on a variety of clothing items. During the natural human motions, the generator elements move in relation to one another and induce the pulses of voltage inside the flat inductor.
The prototype was tested with the wearer walking at different speeds of 3, 4, 5 and 6 km/hr which, according to the researchers, corresponds to the slow, normal and quick walking of a middle-aged man.
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Pratham Bhat
12/17/2012 2:55 AM EST
gud idea...please provide related review papers
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GREAT-Terry
12/17/2012 4:13 AM EST
Very interesting ideas. It would be good to see them commercialised.
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iniewski
12/17/2012 12:24 PM EST
Ann-Francoise, great article...would you be interested in expanding it to a short book chapter for the energy harvesting book I am editing? kris.iniewski@gmail.com
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chanj
12/17/2012 12:34 PM EST
Wearable human motion energy harvester
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDwQFjAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fortus.rtu.lv%2Fscience%2Flv%2Fpublications%2F12703%2Ffulltext.pdf&ei=EVfPUIXlLOzriQKg5YDgBg&usg=AFQjCNEFYDLM1v8-FadBNfV0bENghV0Lbw&bvm=bv.1355325884,d.cGE&cad=rja
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chanj
12/17/2012 12:41 PM EST
Energy harvesting seems to be one of the next big thing in 2013. I wonder whether the energy is being harvested is actually needed elsewhere. Harvesting from breathing and body heat would probably has no side effect to the person. I would like to understand more about "Harvesting vibrations from heartbeats", etc.
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elPresidente
12/18/2012 2:42 AM EST
These slide show, multipage, formats are ANNOYING
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horta1212
12/19/2012 3:46 PM EST
The amount of energy harvested thru these methods is ridiculously small except for the green wheel. You're better off putting a rechargable watch battery into devices along with wireless charging circuitry than use these methods. The exception being research into implantable pacemakers that never need removing.
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DR.PAUL
12/20/2012 6:20 AM EST
a good device for the ears. Thanks to the Engineers. by Dr.Paul
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thinkndo
12/20/2012 11:38 AM EST
In olden days, human energy was used for various purposes.We had slaves at that time :)
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martin.rowe
12/23/2012 1:17 AM EST
We have a blog about piezoelectric technology being used for human energy harvesting. See "Human Energy" as The Connecting Edge.
http://www.theconnectingedge.com/author.asp?section_id=2602&doc_id=254826
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Wegatech
3/25/2013 10:43 AM EDT
Wegatech Electronic has designed a circuit which can harvest energy from piezoelectric to power small microcontroller successfully.
For more information, please visit
http://www.wegatech.com
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