Vibration harvesters designed to replace AA, AAA batteries

7/16/2010 10:01 AM EDT

OK, this sounds like a Christmas present we rec'd in recent years, substituting flashlight for remote control (or actually, battery). Yes, they work. Is it convenient? No. People still generally avoid rechargable batteries unless it's in high usage applications (like flash batteries for cameras, etc.) Until it is painful in the wallet to buy AA's, this noble idea will not be embraced by the masses. I pay 5 cent deposit on Aluminum cans. But none on batteries. Go figure.

7/16/2010 12:00 PM EDT

Yeah, that great! I am interested to know what would be the price of these vibration harvester battery substitutes. I would also like to know their life (hopefully much more than the rechargeable batteries). I am assuming that the mechanical dimensions of these products are the same as the AA or AAA size batteries, so that the AA / AAA batteries could be easily replaced by the equivalent vibration batteries, correct? Know all these I think I will be able to make a judgment about whether to use them or not.

7/16/2010 12:40 PM EDT

The first stage is direct replacement of batteries. The real story is devices designed without the need to accomodate user-accessible battery compartments. Consumer remote controls are a volume application, but industrial or military systems can get a real win out of this.

Larry M.

7/16/2010 4:31 PM EDT

Basically, this sounds like a good idea. But, how many devices that contain batteries will get a significant and often enough shaking to ensure adequate charge when you need it?

Vibrational energy harvesters ARE a good idea. An excellent place to apply them would be on running machinery which vibrates a lot and use sensor devices powered by the harvester to feed performance or maintenance data to a low power, in-factory mesh network as part of the overall factory process control. Same is true on bridges, and moving joints (by design).

I hope advances in this field continue.

7/17/2010 4:00 PM EDT

I am definitely happy to shake the remote control a bit before use to avoid the hassle of buying new batteries for such low power functionality. Also, think of the e-waste generated by batteries folks. This is a clean technology with a useful purpose. All for it!

7/18/2010 6:33 PM EDT

Sounds like a great idea to me. First application might be in the Wii (and other game systems) remote controls, where movement and shaking are part of the normal operating environment. Seems to have great potential...

7/19/2010 2:26 PM EDT

It is really a great idea, and will eliminate the hassel of changing the batteries and leackage problems.
Also some advancements in the technology will help to remove the batteries from mobile/cell phones.
This is an excellent idea...

7/20/2010 5:28 AM EDT

Too artificial to use and of limited utility. I can put in a couple of AA's in my remote and not worry for a year or two, how can shake and use concept make a dent to this, eh?

7/20/2010 5:58 AM EDT

Sounds like another potential disaster scenario like the Wii controllers embedded in the flat screen in the hands of the young.

In our house we kill more remotes buy dropping or knocking them off surfaces - would it be fun to see them flying across the room or will these also require retraints

8/2/2010 3:45 AM EDT

This sounds like a very good innovation especially for gadgets like TV remote. It will at least ensure some calories burnt for the couch potatoes apart from saving the hassle of replacing those AA and AAA batteries every now and then. The days of automatic wrist watches which worked on movement of wrist are back! the spring is getting replaced by a capacitor.

8/2/2010 5:45 AM EDT

Ahh this is really useful innovation. Just imagine how many remote controls we have in our house:
TV, DVD, Home theatre system, air conditioner, fan...

Host costly is this energy harvesting box still?

8/4/2010 4:42 AM EDT

This is a great idea to keep our earth GREEN. When I read the above article, my mind came across a recent news about a football stadium where the audiences can generate electricity for lighting by stepping on and off on where they watch the football game.

8/4/2010 11:46 PM EDT

As with most energy innovations, the cost/payback calculation needs to be run. Many of my remotes seem to work for the shelf life of the batteries (3-5 years), while one remote needs batteries every 6 months. The vibration harvesters would probably not be cost effective for the more efficient/less frequently used remotes; while they would have to be less than 4-6x the cost of AA's or AAA's for the less efficient remotes to break even.

8/12/2010 12:21 PM EDT

Anybody thought of harvesting the hot air that comes out of charley rangle's orifice?

8/16/2010 3:52 AM EDT

Is the battery replacement unit protected for drop to the floor?

8/16/2010 10:22 AM EDT

Excellent idea. I am looking forward to seeing Intel’s wireless power marketed soon http://blogs.intel.com/research/2008/10/rattner_the_promise_of_wireles.php
Though this is based on Tesla’s work, it will be cool to such a product. I think to some extent, Palm’s touch charger was a cool device :)

8/18/2010 6:33 AM EDT

THIS IS AN EXCELLENT IDEA PROVIDED A FAST TRICKLE/FLOAT CHARGER IS ACCOMODATED.

8/18/2010 3:44 PM EDT

Leave the remote in the rocking chair, no shaking required! Cool! Can't wait!

8/24/2010 2:09 PM EDT

This looks very promising work. Vibration harvester will have plethora of applications where its cost will be justified.

Fusion of vibration harvester with MEMS may provide solution to micro scale implantable bio-medical devices. With this, you may not need to come back to hospital to change battery after few years. At other end, infant will have their toys always powered. They may not need help from grownups. And there are remotely located sensors in forests and oceans always powered and collecting data. I will eagerly await its availability.