Design and Optimization of Wearables for Human Motion Energy Harvesting

TL;DR

This paper presents the design and simulation of a shoe-worn electromagnetic energy harvester that converts walking motion into electrical energy, aiming to develop self-powered wearable devices.

Contribution

It introduces a novel shoe-based energy harvesting system with a simulated prototype and discusses future enhancements for practical wearable applications.

Findings

Maximum voltage of 12V in simulation

Prototype demonstrated energy output from walking motion

Foundation for self-powered wearable footwear

Abstract

As wearable electronics become increasingly prevalent, there is a rise in interest and demand for sustainably designed systems that are also energy self-sufficient. The research described in this paper investigated a shoe-worn energy harvesting system designed use the mechanical energy from walking to output electrical energy. A spring is attached to electromagnetic generator embedded in the heel of the shoe to recover the vertical pressure caused by the foot strike. The simulated prototype consisted of a standard EM generator designed in MATLAB demonstrating a maximum voltage of 12V. The initial low fidelity prototype demonstrated testing the relationship between the EM generator and a simple electrical circuit, with energy output observed. Future research will explore enhancing the overall generator design, integrate a power management IC for battery protect and regulation, and combine the system into a final product, wearable footwear. This research lays a foundation for self-powered footwear and energy independent wearable electronic devices.