Kinetic Energy Harvester - Bionic Power Inc. · The PowerWalk ™ Kinetic Energy Harvester Bionic...
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The PowerWalk ™ Kinetic Energy Harvester Bionic Power * makes wearable technology for charging batteries. The PowerWalk ™ Kinetic Energy Harvester delivers uninterrupted, potentially life-saving power in the field for communications, navigation and optics. As well, the PowerWalk can reduce the overall electrical system weight by reducing the need for extra batteries. The PowerWalk enables users to produce 10-12 watts of power as they walk. The light-weight harvester is designed to generate electricity from the natural action of walking, in much the same way regenerative braking works in hybrid cars. With every stride, the harvester’s on-board microprocessors analyze the wearer’s gait to determine precisely when to generate maximum power with the minimum metabolic cost. Over the course of an hour, walking at a comfortable pace, users wearing a harvester on each leg can generate enough power to charge up to four smart phones. Mission-critical Benefits: • Reliable power for unlimited duration • Reduced fatigue on downhill • Reduced need for soldiers to carry backup batteries • Fewer logistical tail challenges with battery replacement and resupply • Significant cost savings • Increased mission flexibility, duration and potential effectiveness • Smaller environmental footprint * PowerWalk and the Bionic Power mark are trademarks of Bionic Power Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
Transcript of Kinetic Energy Harvester - Bionic Power Inc. · The PowerWalk ™ Kinetic Energy Harvester Bionic...
The PowerWalk™ Kinetic Energy Harvester
Bionic Power* makes wearable technology for charging batteries. The PowerWalk™ Kinetic Energy Harvester delivers uninterrupted, potentially life-saving power in the field for communications, navigation and optics. As well, the PowerWalk can reduce the overall electrical system weight by reducing the need for extra batteries.
The PowerWalk enables users to produce 10-12 watts of power as they walk. The light-weight harvester is designed to generate electricity from the natural action of walking, in much the same way regenerative braking works in hybrid cars. With every stride, the harvester’s on-board microprocessors analyze the wearer’s gait to determine precisely when to generate maximum power with the minimum metabolic cost.
Over the course of an hour, walking at a comfortable pace, users wearing a harvester on each leg can generate enough power to charge up to four smart phones.
Mission-critical Benefits:• Reliable power for unlimited duration
• Reduced fatigue on downhill
• Reduced need for soldiers to carry backup batteries
• Fewer logistical tail challenges with battery replacement and resupply
• Significant cost savings
• Increased mission flexibility, duration and potential effectiveness
• Smaller environmental footprint
* PowerWalk and the Bionic Power mark are trademarks of Bionic Power Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.
PowerWalk Features
Anatomically Accurate: the patent-pending four-bar hinge follows the natural biomechanical motion of the knee by tracking both femoral rollback and tibial rotation during knee flexion.
Unimpeded Mobility: the biomimetic design provides limitless flexion into full squat while allowing the unit to fold up for compact transport.
Intelligent Response: the PowerWalk’s
onboard microprocessors analyze walking gait, speed and terrain to determine the best timing and resistance to generate the maximum amount of power with the least amount of user effort.
Dual Mode Connectivity: when plugged directly into a battery, the system will act as a battery charger, using SMBus for charge control. When plugged into a soldier power manager, the system will act as an alternative DC power source, using SMBus to communicate power capacity.
Reduced Metabolic Cost and Fatigue: taking advantage of the natural braking during downhill walking, test results measured a 20% drop in metabolic cost and a 28% drop in muscle activity, which can reduce soldier fatigue significantly.
Adjustable Sizing: the three available size options, with adjustable length shells and straps, ensure the PowerWalk can fit the 5th to 95th percentile of the soldier population.
High-efficiency Power Conversion: the gearbox, generator and power conversion were designed from the ground up for optimal efficiency.
Sealed Construction: built for all soldier missions, no matter how harsh the environment.
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How Harvesting Works
The PowerWalk is designed to generate electricity from the natural action of walking, in much the same way regenerative braking works in hybrid cars.
When we walk, our muscles perform ‘positive’ work to propel us forward. This work is done by the muscles around the ankles and hips. Our muscles also do ‘negative’ work, acting as brakes to slow down our limbs or absorb impact.
The muscles around the knees primarily perform this negative work. The PowerWalk harvests the energy generated by the knee joints during negative work (shown as shaded areas in the graph above), which not only assists the muscles with braking but also generates electricity without noticeably adding to the metabolic cost of the user.
In the PowerWalk’s high-efficiency system, a gearbox transmits the power produced to a generator which harvests energy during these regions of the gait. Then, state-of-the-art electronics are employed for power conversion and model-based, gait-phase-detection algorithms intelligently optimize energy harvesting to minimize work from leg muscles. This can reduce fatigue and metabolic effort, and extend the duration and effectiveness of the mission.
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LEARN MORE: Today, Bionic Power is focused on developing the PowerWalk for military use and will begin multi-unit field trials with the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps in 2017. The remaining first-run production units will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. In the future, we see our walk-recharge technology being used in disaster zones and remote work sites, and by consumers in recreational, emergency preparedness and backup applications. Contact Yad Garcha with field trial inquiries:
1.778.330.4217
Projected Development Plan
Bionic Power. Walk. Recharge.2661 Lillooet Street, Vancouver, BC V5M 4P7, Canada
www.bionic-power.com [email protected] | 1.778.729.0680
About Bionic PowerBionic Power makes wearable
technology for charging batteries. The PowerWalk™ Kinetic Energy Harvester enables users to
produce power as they walk. Wearing a harvester on each leg, users produce an average of 10-12 watts of electricity which, over the course of
an hour-long walk, can charge up to four smart phones. The walk-recharge capability of the PowerWalk reduces user requirements to carry backup batteries, as well as the need for
battery resupply in the field. Development and testing of the PowerWalk is supported by the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps as well as the Canadian Department of Defense.
*Depending on battery type / power manager. Specific connectors available upon request.
ID TASK NAME2016 2017 2018 2019
Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q1
1 Ruggedization and Manufacturing Development
2 Trial System Availability
3 Volume Manufacturing Development & Verification Testing
4 Estimated Production Readiness
PowerWalk Specifications (system contains two harvesters)
Parameter Target (Q3 2017)
Power (level at 5.0 km/h) 10 W
Power (downhill 15% grade) 25 W
Power (uphill 15% grade) 4 W
System Weight 1.8 kg
Output Voltage* 10 - 32 V
Max Output Current (into battery) 5 A
Max Output Current (into power manager) 2 A
Communication Protocol SMBus v1.1
Acoustic Noise < 40 dBA SPL @ 1m
Doffing Time < 5 s
TRL 7
Sealing IP67 / 1m immersion
