Generator implanted in shoe sole to generate power

Assistant professor of electrical engineering at the Louisiana Tech University (La Tech), Dr Ville Kaajakari, has invented a technology that is able to produce power from a small generator, which can be implanted in a shoe sole. He said that, MEMS are small intelligent devices that merge computer chips with micro-components such as gears, sensors, mirrors, flow-channels, and actuators. This new initiative was invented by Dr Kaajakari at La Tech for the purpose of Micromanufacturing (IfM). Now, IfM is based on new voltage regulation circuits that can efficiently alter a piezoelectric transducer into voltage that can be utilised for charging batteries or for directly producing electricity that can be further used by electronic gadgets. According to Dr Kaajakari, this technology is beneficiary for people such as hikers who would want to use their emergency location devices while hiking; or on a more general note, it can also be utilised to power portable electronic gadgets without making the use of batteries. Energy harvesting is the smartest way to power MEMS sensors and other devices such as a GPS system. Unlike the regular ceramic based transducers, the piezoelectric transducer is soft and strong, thereby, easier to take the place of a regular heel shock absorber without disturbing the user. Dr Kaajakari concluded by saying that, “I am planning to increase the power levels to a point wherein this type of generators could also recharge portable electronic gadgets such as mobile phones.”