Biomechanical Energy Harvesting: Optimization, Control and Biomechanics

生物力学能量收集：优化、控制和生物力学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04771
• 负责人: Li, Qingguo
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=740170
• 关键词: Biomechanical; Energy; Harvesting; Optimization; Control

The ubiquity of portable electronics and wearable devices, and our reliance on them, are constrained by the availability of continual power source. Currently, these devices are almost exclusively powered with batteries. The weight and limited energy in batteries limits the duration of operation and system performance. This is particularly an issue for military, disaster relief workers, field scientists, and other operations in which their success relies on portable electronics. Biomechanical energy harvesters (BMEHs) that generate electricity from human movement during daily activities (walking or running), become a viable alternative to batteries for powering portable electronics. An ideal BMEHs should generate a large amount of electricity without disturbing the user's normal activity. Integrating the understanding of biomechanics with BMEH optimization is the key to achieve this goal. This design methodology has been proven to be effective in wearable exoskeletons development. Properly designed and controlled exoskeletons have been shown to assist the users in decreasing the metabolic effort of walking. However, the design optimization and intelligent control of BMEHs grounded on biomechanics is lacking behind when compared with the exoskeleton field. The short-term objective is to develop BMEH design optimization, and intelligent control methodology in parallel to the understanding of the effects of energy harvesting on human walking biomechanics. Mechanical system of BMEHs will be optimized through selection of proper harvester parameters (e.g., gear ratio, generator, and output electrical load). Three control strategies, open-loop control, human-in-the-loop control, and control with wearable sensors, will be implemented to maximize the power production while minimizing user effort. In addition, a series of human experiments will be performed to study learning, adaptation, gender difference, and gait stability in BMEHs usage. Over a 5yr period, two PhDs and three MScs will be trained in biomechanical system design, control, biomechanics measurements, human experimentation design and data analysis. Research on energy harvesting has a broad impact and could benefit many fields of application. Soldiers may carry up to 25lbs of batteries during a 72-hour mission. Lightening the load and providing innovative power solutions will increase soldiers' autonomy, decrease physical and cognitive burden of a soldier. BMEHs could be a light weight, and low-cost reliable power solution for dismounted soldiers. The advance of energy harvesting technologies will create values for other applications that require reliable continual electricity such as powered prostheses, and wearable sensors for health applications. The knowledge gained also benefits the assistive device and exoskeleton development in energy optimization and power management. Commercialization of these energy harvesting technologies will directly benefit the Canadian economy.

便携式电子设备和可穿戴设备的无处不在，以及我们对它们的依赖，受到连续电源的可用性的限制。目前，这些设备几乎专门用电池供电。电池中的重量和有限的能量限制了操作和系统性能的持续时间。对于军事，救灾工人，现场科学家和其他成功依赖于便携式电子产品的行动，这尤其是一个问题。生物力学收割机（BMEHS）在日常活动（步行或跑步）期间从人类运动中产生电力，成为为便携式电子设备供电的电池的可行替代品。理想的BMEHS应在不打扰用户的正常活动的情况下产生大量电力。将对生物力学的理解与BMEH优化相结合是实现此目标的关键。这种设计方法已被证明在可穿戴外骨骼开发中有效。已证明正确设计和控制的外骨骼可帮助用户减少步行的代谢努力。然而，与外骨骼场相比，缺少基于生物力学的BMEH的设计优化和智能控制。 短期目标是开发BMEH设计优化，并与对能量收集对人类步行生物力学的影响的理解并行。 BMEHS的机械系统将通过选择适当的收割机参数（例如，齿轮比，发电机和输出电荷）来优化。将实施三种控制策略，即开环控制，人体控制和使用可穿戴传感器的控制，以最大程度地发电，同时最大程度地减少用户工作。此外，将进行一系列人类实验，以研究BMEHS使用中的学习，适应，性别差异和步态稳定性。在5年期间，将在生物力学系统设计，控制，生物力学测量，人类的实验设计和数据分析方面接受两个博士学位和三个MSC培训。能源收集的研究具有广泛的影响，可以使许多应用领域受益。在72小时的任务中，士兵可以承载多达25磅的电池。减轻负载并提供创新的电力解决方案将增加士兵的自主权，减轻士兵的身体和认知负担。 BMEHS可能是轻量级的重量，并且可以为拆卸的士兵提供低成本的可靠动力解决方案。能源收集技术的进步将为需要可靠的持续电力（例如动力假体）和健康应用的可穿戴传感器等其他应用创造价值。获得的知识也使能源优化和电力管理中的辅助设备和外骨骼开发受益。这些能源收集技术的商业化将直接受益于加拿大经济。