The Biomechanical Energy Harvester, developed by Simon Fraser University (SFU) researchers, resembles a lightweight orthopedic knee brace. The device harvests energy from the end of a walker’s step, when the muscles are working to slow the movement of the leg, in much the same way that hybrid-electric cars recycle power from braking.
Wearing a device on each leg, an individual can generate up to 5 W of electricity with little additional physical effort. Walking more quickly generates as much as 13 W of electricity: At that rate, one minute of walking provides enough electricity to sustain 30 minutes of talk time on a mobile phone.
Source: SFU.CA
