Comments for Rubber Material Harvests Energy from Small Movements at http://www.ecogeek.org , comment 1 to 14 out of 14 comments http://www.ecogeek.org Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:44:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-36005 If anybody has been windsurfing they know what it feels like to have a wetsuit on. It does take energy out of the body to walk, if the suit has a thick skin. The worst is Wetsuit Gloves which require so much effort to grip the boom that you would get repetetive strain injury opening and closing. But for walking, I would gladly accept a little Wetsuit-style friction if it would charge my phone or charge up my torch or radio. - David Nicholson-Cole Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:49:20 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35893 Currently a lot of the energy that goes into your car's wheels is converted into heat in the tyres, and also works to erode the tread of your tyres. That energy could easily be redirected into providing electricity to contribute to the charge in the battery without impeding the forward motion of the car. I don't think Brandon was suggesting perpetual motion, just saying that energy wastage in the system could be slightly reduced. - fletcher Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:48:21 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35887 Putting these into the tyres of a car would do exactly nothing for the battery life. If they were placed in a way that generated electricity, the car would have to do more work to drive the wheels at the same speed, because some of the energy being used would be going to move these things to generate electricity. It's basic thermodynamics that you can't get out more than you put in. All the energy being put into driving a car is coming from the cars motor, and so if you regain any energy from the drivetrain, that energy is just being taken from the car itself. Modern electric cars have regenerative braking that would work better than this at reclaiming energy due to hills or braking. This does have a very important use as a method of converting small movements (such as those made by a person) into electricity. Theoretically a person with one of these on their lungs would have to eat more calories every day to make up for it, but because it represents a method of converting their calorie consumption into usable electricity, it's OK that there's a loss in efficiency. - Leo Sun, 07 Feb 2010 19:04:51 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35879 Imagine these things being put into the tires of a car. It would give electric vehicles slightly longer range since they could be used to help slowly recharge the batteries as the car is driving. There are hundreds of applications these things can be used for, and still not come close to having any kind of contact with the general consumer's skin, or body. Hell, put them under my keys on my keyboard and mouse. As much as I type, I could nearly power my entire computer with these things! ( yes, I'm exaggerating ). - Brandon M Sun, 07 Feb 2010 13:07:47 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35757 Properly encapsulated, I can see this being deformed by the wind blowing an attached weight and producing energy which would be saved to a battery. It would be interesting to see how useful a bunch of these strung up around the house could be. - Barney Sperlin Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:51:09 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35752 The technological advance we have made have been quite incredible, but this is outstanding. I can see some downsides to this type of technology such as allergic reactions, but the upside to it is quite mind boggling. - VeruTek Green Technologies Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:49:11 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35745 Well at least it's a start. It may not be the safest material but every good idea has to start somewhere. - Ben R Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:01:59 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35714 Well, they're not going to just stick a blob of PZT in there, man! It'll be encapsulated and communicating by wire, of course. - octopod Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:08:56 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35709 I think that this product has enormous possibilities. To think that pacemaker patients wouldn't have to undergo constant surgeries to have the battery replaced shows huge strides in product improvement. Of course we aren't to that stage yet but how exciting that the possibility is even on the horizon. The currently battery life really isn't cutting it. www.sunpack.com/blog/ - Marie T Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:10:30 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35703 This is a great invention but as the others I don't want to sacrifice my health as well. - John for Recycling Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:31:37 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35700 Wow, could this, on a larger scale, also harness mechanical energy from things like tidal movements, tectonic shifts, earthquakes et cetera? - Chris Tue, 02 Feb 2010 08:14:41 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35695 like putting a nickle cadmium inside us to keep our heart going is "safer". Always, yes, take precautions, but always proceed. - sarah Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:42:57 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35689 Hey Greg, Here's the MSDS for NaCl, you know, salt. "Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (irritant), of ingestion[?!?], of inhalation." And I would imagine it has the environmental release warning because it's properties haven't fully been characterized. Don't be such a naysayer. - Dan Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:03:44 +0100 http://www.ecogeek.org/power-storage/3057-rubber-material-harvests-energy-from-small-movemen#comment-35685 Here is an excerpt from a materials safety data sheet for the substance (PZT) :- • Primary irritant effect: • on the skin: Irritant to skin and mucous membranes. • on the eye: Irritating effect. • Sensitization: Sensitizing effects known. • Other information (about experimental toxicology): • Do not allow material to be released to the environment without proper governmental permits. This sounds really safe to me - NOT - Grant Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:34:28 +0100