627.ENERGY HARVESTING USING PIEZOELECTRIC CERAMICS INCORPORATED IN A SHOE-SOLE

Abstract

Energy harvesting as a concept of “catching” the energy which is wasted due to inevitable processes is a very promising technology for energy collection and its transformation into a type of energy suitable to power wireless devices. Energy can be harvested by using different materials properties, such as piezoelectrics, in order to produce electricity when being exposed to mechanical vibrations. This paper focuses on achieving energy harvesting by one’s walk or run, by incorporating shoes piezoelectric “smart soles” capable of transforming generated mechanical vibrations into electricity. Using the smallest amount of energy of one or more energy sources, accumulate that energy or even use it right away, is a new and effective way of dealing with the devices which need a constant power supply such as Wi-Fi modules, IoT devices or even personal gadgets. Therefore, the goal is to make energy harvesting devices easy to use by people in their everyday life, and yet inexpensive in order. In this paper, a model and design of a shoesole which uses the property of the piezoelectric materials to generate electric voltage as a result of mechanical vibrations is developed. The aspect of person’s walk is used as mechanical stress that indicates vibrations in the sole which is collected in the piezoelectric placed in the shoe. The dynamics of movement of person’s feet with different dynamic variables and other physical parameters that affect the process are discussed. An analytical model of the shoe-sole is built and experimental measurement results are explained. As proof of concept, a functional prototype is presented.