A Chinstrap That Generates Energy With Every Bite And Munch
@sharvari-panchbhai-JOvYc6
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Oct 27, 2024
Oct 27, 2024
1.3K
According to a group of researchers from Canada, energy can be harvested while performing the activities such as talking, chewing, and eating. To generate electricity from such jaw movements, the team has developed a novel head-mounted device called “Chinstrap†which can be used to power small-scale wearable electronic gadgets such as hearing aids, electronic hearing protectors, communication earpieces and cochlear implants also. It is estimated by the team that the device can generate energy of about seven mW of power from chewing meals alone.
The team from Sonomax-ÉTS Industrial Research Chair in In-ear Technologies (CRITIAS) at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, Canada has harvested energy by making use of a smart material known as piezoelectric fiber composites (PFC) aka active fiber composite. The PFC was the optimum choice for creating the chin strap as it consists of integrated electrodes, adhesive polymer matrix and has a high degree of structural flexibility. This piezoelectric smart material produces electric charge when it is stretched or subjected to mechanical stress. A protective layer of two thin Kapton sheets over the functional PFC acts as an electrical insulator.
While performing the study, the researchers made the piezoelectric strap from a single layer of PFC. Then, a couple of elastic side straps were used to fix this prototype on a pair of earmuffs. The subject performed the activity of chewing for 60 seconds after wearing this strap. At the end of the study, it was found that the power output was about 10 µW. In a statement, Aidin Delnavaz, co-author of the study, mentioned that the development is at a nascent stage and further research is required for maximizing and fine tuning the performance of the device as, at present, the power level achieved is barely adequate for powering electronic gadgets. He further said that, the team wants to increase the number of piezoelectric elements in the strap and also wants to develop an improved power management circuit which will help to accommodate a small rechargeable battery into the prototype.
The research was published in the Institute of Physics journal #-Link-Snipped-#. What are your thoughts about the new invention? Share with us in the comment section below.
Source: #-Link-Snipped-#
The team from Sonomax-ÉTS Industrial Research Chair in In-ear Technologies (CRITIAS) at École de technologie supérieure (ÉTS) in Montreal, Canada has harvested energy by making use of a smart material known as piezoelectric fiber composites (PFC) aka active fiber composite. The PFC was the optimum choice for creating the chin strap as it consists of integrated electrodes, adhesive polymer matrix and has a high degree of structural flexibility. This piezoelectric smart material produces electric charge when it is stretched or subjected to mechanical stress. A protective layer of two thin Kapton sheets over the functional PFC acts as an electrical insulator.
While performing the study, the researchers made the piezoelectric strap from a single layer of PFC. Then, a couple of elastic side straps were used to fix this prototype on a pair of earmuffs. The subject performed the activity of chewing for 60 seconds after wearing this strap. At the end of the study, it was found that the power output was about 10 µW. In a statement, Aidin Delnavaz, co-author of the study, mentioned that the development is at a nascent stage and further research is required for maximizing and fine tuning the performance of the device as, at present, the power level achieved is barely adequate for powering electronic gadgets. He further said that, the team wants to increase the number of piezoelectric elements in the strap and also wants to develop an improved power management circuit which will help to accommodate a small rechargeable battery into the prototype.
The research was published in the Institute of Physics journal #-Link-Snipped-#. What are your thoughts about the new invention? Share with us in the comment section below.
Source: #-Link-Snipped-#
