STTR Phase I: Harvesting Walking Energy for Mobile Electronics

STTR 第一阶段：为移动电子设备收集步行能量

• 批准号: 0712529
• 负责人: Brian Kuhn
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: SmartSpark Energy Systems, Inc.
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-07-01 至 2008-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0712529&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: STTR; Phase; Harvesting; Walking; Energy

This Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I research project will research and develop devices that harvest energy during walking, thereby displacing some use of batteries and frequent recharging. This project involves the design, optimization, and testing of a biomechanical energy generator. The major technical challenges are high power output, efficient power management, and low mass as well as improved human efficiency. This effort requires synthesis of electromechanical, electronic, and bio-mechanical disciplines. Advanced computer modeling, as well as innovative electro-mechanical design, is required as this area of work is relatively little researched. Small electric generators, connected to loads through sophisticated power electronics would provide an alternative power source. The project seeks to minimize the parasitic weight of such a generating device while also providing electrical power storage and utilization. In addition, the effort would seek to optimize the effects of the other human loading such as carrying efficiency.The growing use of portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, personal digital assistants, laptops, music players, and so forth, has caused increasing demand for mobile power delivery. Power is a limiting factor in the use of mobile devices, which is currently served mainly by lithium-ion batteries that are nearing their practical limits. By harvesting energy normally wasted from ordinary human activity, this problem may be alleviated. This project will impact the availability of the required energy for the wearable electronic devices without any disposal requirement, temperature sensitivity (fuel cell alternatives have high temperature), and availability of electrical outlet within easy access. The proposed electricity generation technique would give field scientists, explorers, and disaster relief workers freedom from the heavy weight of replacement batteries and thus extends their ability to operate in remote areas.

这个小型企业技术转移(STTR)第一阶段研究项目将研究和开发在步行时收集能量的设备，从而取代一些电池的使用和频繁充电。该项目涉及生物机械能量发生器的设计、优化和测试。主要的技术挑战是高功率输出、高效的电源管理以及低质量和提高人类效率。这项工作需要综合机电、电子和生物机械学科。由于这一领域的研究相对较少，因此需要先进的计算机建模以及创新的机电设计。小型发电机，通过复杂的电力电子设备连接到负载上，将提供一种替代电源。该项目寻求将这种发电设备的寄生重量降至最低，同时还提供电力存储和利用。此外，这项努力将寻求优化其他人类负荷的影响，如携带效率。便携式电子设备的日益使用，如手机、个人数字助理、笔记本电脑、音乐播放器等，导致对移动电力输送的需求不断增加。电力是移动设备使用的一个限制因素，目前移动设备主要由接近实用极限的锂离子电池供电。通过收集通常从普通人类活动中浪费的能源，这个问题可能会得到缓解。该项目将影响无任何处置要求的可穿戴电子设备所需能源的可用性、温度敏感度(燃料电池替代品温度较高)以及容易接近的电源插座的可用性。拟议的发电技术将使现场科学家、探险家和救灾人员摆脱更换电池的沉重负担，从而扩大他们在偏远地区作业的能力。