The US Army and Marine Corps have long been the beneficiaries of some of the most audacious and innovative technologies ever created, and this is certainly the case with their incorporation of the PowerWalk Kinetic Energy Harvester. This is a surprisingly lightweight device that can be worn around soldiers' knees in order to recharge their batteries while they're on the move.
The device features a gearbox that is capable of converting the rotation of the knee into electrical power. The device is capable of producing anywhere between 10 and 12 watts of electricity.
The PowerWalk's biggest advantage is the fact that it allows soldiers to have their devices recharged without having to stop their activities and show up at a charging station or facility.
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Kinetic Energy Harvesting
- Mimicking the PowerWalk, different industries could create wearables that convert movements into electrical power.
- Wireless Recharging
- Manufacturers and service providers could create a wireless recharging system for wearables, making it more accessible and user-friendly.
- Flexible Power Storage
- Creating wearable batteries that are both flexible and lightweight could open up new wearable capabilities in terms of size and lifespan.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Military
- Military units could utilize kinetic energy harvesting to power various aspects of their equipment.
- Fitness
- Sports and fitness companies could incorporate kinetic energy harvesting wearables as a way to inspire exercisers to do more.
- Manufacturing
- Manufacturers could use kinetic energy harvesting in their assembly lines or operations to implement autonomous energy-powered systems.
