Human Energy Powers Knee Brace Dynamo for the Disabled
The dynamo-bases device harvest power through regenerative breaking - the same process that is used to recharge the battery onboard most hybrid cars.
Between the futuristic HE and the power-savvy Revolution Door, human-electric power has been getting a lot of attention here at GCT.
Harnessing this largely untapped resource, the adapted knee brace, built by US and Canadian scientists, can generate enough energy to power a mobile phone for 30 minutes from one minute of walking. The dynamo-bases device harvests power through regenerative breaking - the same process that is used to recharge the battery onboard most hybrid cars.
"Walking is a lot like stop-and-go driving," explained Dr Max Donelan of Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, Canada, lead author of the study published in the Science journal, "Within each stride muscles are continuously accelerating and decelerating the body."
BBC says that for now this innovative human-powered mechanism is set to aid amputees by using a series of gears to slow "the body just before the foot hits the ground, whilst simultaneously generating electricity." However, it may eventually be possible to utilize this technology for power generation with able body individuals.