A sugar-cube-sized electric generator that feeds on environmental vibrations has been developed. It could power swarms of wireless sensors or even medical implants, researchers claim.
The new micro-generator harvests power electromagnetically, exploiting the wobbling of several magnets attached to a millimetre-sized cantilever. It measures just 7.0 millimetres by 7.0 mm by 8.5 mm, and the team behind it say it is the most efficient micro-generator yet developed.
The generator converts 30% of environmental kinetic energy into electrical power, and could keep all sorts of low-power devices running without batteries – particularly when alternatives like solar power are not an option.
(Image: Steve Beeby/University of Southampton)
thanks to Shaun A. Saunders for the post
2 comments:
I see a 5 volt battery on the circuit board. This will eventually fail rendering the device inoperatable. Also if exposed to temperatures outside the specifications of the battery will cause premature failure. Why not use a high tech capacitor in place of the battery with something easy (like a solar cell) to kick start the device?
a capacitor by any other name....
Tell me...why would a generator need a battery? It wouldn't. then why is there a battery there? What do generators do? They produce voltage. What do batteries do? Class dismissed.
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