Self-Powered Triboelectric Sensing System for Gait-Based Physiological and Psychological Assessment in Track and Field

TL;DR

This paper presents a self-powered triboelectric nanogenerator integrated into sports shoes for real-time, battery-free monitoring of gait, physiological, and psychological states, advancing wearable sports technology.

Contribution

The study introduces a novel sodium alginate/gelatin-based triboelectric nanogenerator with high performance and multifunctional sensing capabilities for sports and health monitoring.

Findings

High electrical output with Voc of 156.6 V and Isc of 46.9 uA.

Effective in distinguishing walking, running, and jumping.

Capable of inferring physiological and psychological states from gait.

Abstract

Wearable sensors are critical components in smart sports systems for real-time monitoring of athletic performance, physiological conditions, and psychological states. In this work, a sodium alginate/gelatin-based triboelectric nanogenerator (SG-TENG) was developed for mechanical energy harvesting and real-time sensing in track and field applications. The SA/gelatin composite film exhibits high transparency, good flexibility, and uniform morphology, enabling stable triboelectric output. The SG-TENG delivers high electrical performance, including an open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 156.6 V, short-circuit current (Isc) of 46.9 uA, and transferred charge (Qsc) of 139.6 nC, with a maximum power of 13.5 mW under optimal loading. Its output characteristics are closely related to mechanical parameters such as frequency, force, displacement, and contact area. Furthermore, the device demonstrates energy storage capability by charging capacitors under various dynamic conditions. Integrated into a running shoe, the SG-TENG enables self-powered gait monitoring and can distinguish between walking, running, and jumping. It also shows potential for inferring psychological and physiological states from gait features, offering a promising solution for battery-free, multifunctional sensing in sports performance evaluation and health monitoring.