Backpack generates battery power

A backpack that generates electricity as its wearer strolls along has been developed by experts in human locomotion in the US, reports New Scientist.

"By harnessing the loping up-and-down motion of our hips as we walk, the backpack's freely-moving load bounces up and down, generating up to 7 watts. That is more than enough to power cellphones with power-draining functions like colour widescreens or Wi-Fi and GPS connections.

The researchers aim was to relieve soldiers already carrying 36-kilogram backpacks of the need to carry many spare batteries to power their GPS, communications and night-vision devices.

“The extra weight [of the batteries] compromises the amount of food, medicine and armament they can carry,” Rome explains.

emily | 11:15 AM | Technology |
The Permanent Link to this page is: http://www.textually.org/textually/archives/2005/09/009857.htm

Tweet