We really don't suffer from a shortage of energy. We suffer from an inability to capture it. Which is why little inventions like this are so very cool. Steve Beeby of the University of South Hampton was in charge of developing the device, which is pretty much just a couple of magnets allowed to wobble near a coil of copper wires. But all together, it harvests power from vibrations.
In optimal situations, the device can capture about 30% of vibration energy and turn it into electricity. That electricity can in turn power a wide range of small devices. The article at New Scientist lists accelerometers for monitoring bridge stress as a near-term use, and continually charging pace-makers for the long term, but I've got some ideas of my own.
First, never charge your remote control again. The vibrations of lifting, tossing, and jostling it around amongst couch cushions is power enough! Wrist watches, of course, would be a perfect application as well as cell phones, as component voltages get lower and lower.
Anywhere there's movement and a little bit of power is needed, look no further than the micro-generators of the future.
Via New Scientist
See Also:
-Electricity from Thin Air-
-Power from Waste Heat-
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Comments (17)
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written by Rob, July 10, 2007
Haven't Seiko had a self-charging watch with this type of technology in it for years?
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written by Matthew, July 10, 2007
Most watches have the self winding thing. It's like a counter weight that moves when you move and puts tension on a spring. It slowly snaps back spinning all the gears and moving the arms. At least that's what Rolex, Swatch, etc. do.
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written by Hi, July 10, 2007
Why are there Land Rover ads on this site? That's like trying to sell condoms to Evangelical Christians.
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written by Hank, July 10, 2007
Good point HI. I sincerely hope that no one who visits this site buys a land rover. Frankly, I'm happy to take their money, confident that none of my readers will be at all interested in their product.
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written by King, July 10, 2007
Watches that are powered by energy captured by normal movement of your arm and wrist have been around for a few years. I do not believe that technology is the same as this, but there are definitely similarities.
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written by B, July 10, 2007
Why are there Land Rover ads on this site? That's like trying to sell Chicken McNuggets on the PETA website.
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written by Coromir, July 10, 2007
Just a small thing, it's Southampton, one word, not South Hampton...
It's a british thing...
It's a british thing...
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written by Badsra, July 10, 2007
There's been another invention on similar lines - the power generating backpack! Dr. Lawrence Rome started a company to make such backpacks for the general public.
Read about it on my blog!
Http://www.indiaontheworld.blogspot.com
Read about it on my blog!
Http://www.indiaontheworld.blogspot.com
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written by I.P.R., July 10, 2007
Check out PhysOrg.com for articles about various ways to capture the vibration, motion, and heat energy that currently goes to waste as far as useful work for us humans goes. The highest energy recovery % I've come across was 46%. Some of these devices are so small and light that, when available commercially, we will see energy generating clothes that produce power even if they're only pajamas worn during sleep. Pretty cool stuff overall. [removed]void(0);
Smiley
Smiley
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written by kieran, July 10, 2007
this would be quite useful in high earthquake zones, put a ferw of thesse down along the san andreas fault line and youve got plenty of power!!
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written by rob, July 11, 2007
The watches your thinking of, are called kinetic, they work like a normal self winder, but charge a capacitor instead.
See here: http://www.kinetic.net/docs/detail.html
Interestingly, I used to wear one of these while operating a large stitch welder and the magnetic field pulses would make it gain time like crazy.
See here: http://www.kinetic.net/docs/detail.html
Interestingly, I used to wear one of these while operating a large stitch welder and the magnetic field pulses would make it gain time like crazy.
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written by ZoomZoom, July 13, 2007
Just think of the power they could generate that's wasted right now.
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written by Kjinx, July 18, 2007
One more unrelated thing..
written by Hi, July 10, 2007
Why are there Land Rover ads on this site? That's like trying to sell condoms to Evangelical Christians.
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Why wouldn't Evangelical Christians buy condoms you f**king moron? Tons of them are married and believe in birth control.
written by Hi, July 10, 2007
Why are there Land Rover ads on this site? That's like trying to sell condoms to Evangelical Christians.
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Why wouldn't Evangelical Christians buy condoms you f**king moron? Tons of them are married and believe in birth control.
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written by Silver, July 18, 2007
> Why wouldn't Evangelical Christians buy condoms you > f**king moron? Tons of them are married and believe > in birth control.
Cos they are all stupid enough to believe in a god and hence too stupid to use birth control?
Cos they are all stupid enough to believe in a god and hence too stupid to use birth control?
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written by Tech News, July 20, 2007
Imagine placing them on a boat in the ocean where they could generate power from the movement of the waves.
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written by Michael, July 27, 2007
Just shake your mp3 player when it's out of battery power!
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written by Uncle B, December 08, 2009
I hit a site that showed a gas contraption that made electric current from daily temperature changes - bigger changes = bigger currents! have searched my feeble file for this article but can't find it! They used the differing pressures of a gas/liquid, like and Einstein fridge cycle to turn a small generator device encapsuled internally, outputting current to the outside through sealed terminals - Was a low power device, but proved the theory of possibility and needed scaling for practical outputs - Just think, Free power from the sun - sans mirrors!
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