A flexible carbon strip that generates electricity from knee movements during running has been developed by scientists at the American Institute of Physics (AIP). The technology could be used in the future to charge the batteries of small devices on the go. The energy collector is attached to the side of the knee and generates up to 1.6 milliwatts of electricity by compressing and stretching the strip during running. The generator is made of a carbon fiber composite material and is based on the principle that the knee joint has a larger range of motion than other joints, such as the ankle or hip, and can therefore generate more energy. The researchers found that the energy collector did not hinder running and did not cause any noticeable muscle strain.
The energy collector is made of a thin composite material strip that is attached to the side of the knee. The strip generates electricity by compressing and stretching during running, producing up to 1.6 milliwatts of electricity. The generator is made of a carbon fiber composite material and is based on the principle that the knee joint has a larger range of motion than other joints, such as the ankle or hip, and can therefore generate more energy. The researchers found that the energy collector did not hinder running and did not cause any noticeable muscle strain. The energy collector is easy to remove and can be used multiple times. The researchers predict that in the future, self-sufficient devices will make daily charging unnecessary, as integrated biomechanical energy collectors will constantly generate electricity while running.
