A backpack that generates power
posted Sep 9th 2005 8:00AM
Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a backpack that can actually generate electricity as its
wearer walks. The suspended-load backpack can generate about seven watts of power solely via the motion of the person
carrying it, which is achieved by detaching the pack's frame from the load it carries and harnessing the energy
generated as the load moves up and down on vertical springs. The actual energy generated depends on the weight of the
load and how fast the person walks, but is usually enough to charge several handheld devices at the same time. The pack
is reportedly comfortable to wear, and doesn't weigh significantly more than a conventional pack. the idea for the
backpack came from the U.S. Office of Naval Research with an eye on its soldiers, but we're hoping someone
commercializes this with an eye on… well, us.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
I just went backpacking in Arizona and was noticing I had 6 times as many electronic devices (image stabilizing binoculars, GPS, PDA, LED flashlight, digital camera, cell phone) as in the past (flashlight only). Although I carried a few extra batteries, most of the devices lasted the trip with the ones they had. And I wonder if extra batteries would weigh less than the devices this technology would require to generate the power?
It is being commercialized by an outfit called Lightning Packs, LLC
There is no such thing as free power. Anybody who has tried to ride a bike uphill with the suspension set too compliant will tell you that the energy this pack is "generating" by moving up and down is energy you as a walker are expending moving. If the weight of your pack isn't rigidly attached to your person you will fatigue much more quickly...
And they say it doesn't weigh significantly more than a regular pack -- but the specs say it weighs 10 POUNDS!!!!!! The old addaage for backpackers is "an ounce in the orning is a pound by evening." And, as dfn_doe pointed out, there's the energy conservation thing, in which all energy beng used to create power is energy being lost to hiking.
Get i down to one pound, and only gneerating 7 watts, and I could see it, especially for our increasingly electronicized infantry.
10lbs is not heavy at all even if your travelling 40miles. however 7watts isn't much and why would anybody need that? Just carry around a mag lite, and an all-in-one flash light if your that desperate for entertainment. hell, get one of those crack things that will give energy for a few minutes or invent some sort of solar power hat.
looks like its going to ruin any built in support for your exsiting backpack
and im dead worried its going to set up a reverberating bounce in the springs, which will make walking near impossible
It does seem like a logical extension of those kinetic watches that recharge themselves just by wearing them...
I saw this on a mexican news channel. Looks like it works quite well.
such an ipod ripoff
You can lock the thing in place so it doesn't generate electricity, or you can unlock it so that it does. It's a simple trade off between your physical energy and some emergency electricity for devices that you NEED to work. For cripes sake, stop complaining.