Powering wearable devices through human motion energy harvesting

Today, jogging is slowly gaining popularity as a simple and effective way to exercise. Wake up every morning, we will wear sportswear and bring an MP3 player to prepare for the next exercise. However, perhaps in the future preparations, you will need to bring a small human energy harvesting system. Although not yet widely available, this motion-driven energy harvesting system will soon become an important part of your daily workout, just like a pair of lightweight running shoes.

During her second year at the University of Florida to pursue her Ph.D., Yuan Rao received a scholarship from TI to fund her research. The small energy harvesting system she invented consists of three main components, including an energy harvester that converts human motion into electrical energy, a circuit that regulates and controls energy, and a battery. The entire system designed by Yuan is only table tennis size and can be attached to the wrist or ankle. Through collaboration with her faculty at the University of Florida, David Arnold, and TI's Melbourne Energy Harvesting team, Yuan used TI's technology and products early in the design process.

Yuan's breakthrough innovation in design is mainly about how to collect the energy of sports generated when people walk, jog or ride a bicycle. Before Yuan began research, energy harvesting can only be achieved in a single direction, and has nothing to do with how people exercise.

“My device is capable of collecting energy from multiple directions mainly because the magnetic balls in the system can move in a variety of ways,” Yuan said. “As long as the person is in motion, the magnetic balls in the system will continue to roll while Collecting energy in multiple directions, so this system is perfect for everyone, because our movements are random."

Yuan found that when people are jogging, if the product is attached to the ankle, the product will be in optimal working condition. When people are walking or riding a bicycle, it can also transfer the generated energy to the battery on the board. Whether you are walking, jogging or cycling, the faster you get, the more energy you produce. Yuan has created a fully self-sufficient energy harvesting system that successfully converts human motion into the electrical energy needed to charge a battery.

According to research data from global information company IHS, more than 14 million wearable technology devices were shipped in 2011, and the market for wearable devices is expected to grow by more than 550% by 2016. As wearable medical devices, health and fitness equipment, smart watches, and augmented reality glasses continue to grow in popularity, IHS expects shipments of wearable technology devices to reach 117 million in 2016, all of which It is possible that the equipment is powered by the system designed by Yuan one day.

Yuan said, "Our research aims to use this system in smartphones or other mobile technologies in the near future."

“TI's scholarships helped me complete my studies, and the internships offered provided me with a deeper understanding of the industry through my colleagues and their expertise,” Yuan said. “If I don't have a TI scholarship, I need to spend more. Time and energy to find the financial support needed to complete the project, and not necessarily the current results."

During her time receiving TI scholarships, Yuan also participated in three TI internship programs that gave her confidence in the energy harvesting research project. After receiving her Ph.D. from the University of Florida, she joined the TI Power team and became a design engineer.

The multifaceted support provided by TI helped her complete this groundbreaking research project. At the same time, it is certain that Yuan's research results will provide us with a constant source of power in the next step in future research.

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