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Walking Power

In the quest for “green” energy, finding creative ways to harvest even small amounts of power can make a big difference. For example, massive amounts of energy are generated every day by people as they walk, and turning that energy into usable power may soon become a reality.

To illustrate this, a group of scientists has developed a tablet-shaped device that fits in the sole of a shoe. Approximately two inches in diameter and 3 millimeters thick, the device contains a piezoelectric sensor which captures the mechanical force with each step and converts it into electrical energy. The prototype systems have been used to successfully charge watch batteries as well as AAA batteries to power electronic devices.

But they don’t intend to stop there. The next step will be to adapt the technology and build it into a mat that can be placed at the entry of a mass transport system or busy shopping area. It’s conceivable that such a setup could generate enough power to illuminate, or at least supplement, public lighting in those areas.

For information: Abel Macias Hurtado, Center for Research in Advanced Materials (CIMAV), Avenue Miguel de Cervantes 120, Complejo Industrial Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico, C.P. 31109; phone: +52-614-439-1100; fax: +52-614-439-4884; Web site: www.cimav.edu.mx/en/

Daniel Burrus' Top Twenty Technology-Driven Trends for 2014