http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/ Engadget Comments for Tiny generator turns vibrations into electricity http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:20AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 1:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
The problem with size is that the amount of power harvested is generally proportional to the size. The fact that they were able to couple it to an accel is an accomplishment. The question is efficiency - how efficiently do they convert vibration energy into electrical energy.

Note also that anything that takes away vibration energy is a damping mechanism. This is why energy scavenging in shoes feels like walking on sand -- I'm exaggerating, but you get the point.
]]>Jul 6th 2007 2:20PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 2:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:33AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:34AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:35AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.media.mit.edu/resenv/power.html for example.

Would be great if it turned mainstream. Never needing to charge your gadgets as long as you walk around a bit would be awesome.]]>Jul 6th 2007 11:41AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
Do the same thing for your arms...panels on your shirt on either side of your abdomen, and a panel on the inside of each arm.

Might have already been done, but it seems like a neat idea to me.

]]>Jul 6th 2007 2:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Now, all I have to do is play my drum set for about an hour. That should give me enough electricity to light up my house for the night.

All nonsense aside, this is a great thing to develop. And putting it in high traffic areas would guarantee a positive result.]]>Jul 6th 2007 11:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Isn't that the technology used by wrist watch manufacturers to make watches that don't require batteries?]]>Jul 6th 2007 11:37AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
It's *sorta* like a battery. It's faster and more efficient though.]]>Jul 6th 2007 12:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 7:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Sean McCarthy: "But does it follow the laws of thermodynamics?"
University of Southampton: "......Yeah......"
Sean McCarthy: "Whatever..."
University of Southampton: "..."]]>Jul 6th 2007 11:39AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Microphone.]]>Jul 6th 2007 11:43AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
"Power up! POWER UP! POOOWEEER UUUUP!" :)]]>Jul 6th 2007 12:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 11:48AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
now the wiimote charging idea would be perfect. someone jump on this right now.

oh and i'm glad the laws of thermodynamics are kept in check. the world would fall apart if they got one over on the rules of universe. [:]]>Jul 6th 2007 12:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
Lets have a wind powered pacemaker the fan will be in their throat and as long as they are alive they stay alive.]]>Jul 6th 2007 12:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:21PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/
There's a bit of a difference in scale between the movement of a watch on a persons arm or a torch in their hand and the vibration of a bridge!

As it says above, this is designed to power remote low-power devices such as sensors attached to buildings or bridges. Buildings and bridges do not typically swing around like a persons arm!]]>Jul 6th 2007 12:42PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 12:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/The device that says "5.5V" is an electrolytic capapcitor]]>Jul 6th 2007 1:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 2:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 2:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 5:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 3:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 4:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 6th 2007 9:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/06/tiny-generator-turns-vibrations-into-electricity/Jul 8th 2007 8:57AM