(c) KUNZBERG GmbH

A growing number of wearable and implantable electronic devices for condition monitoring and therapy have to be provided with electrical energy for functioning. As the battery capacity is limited and recharging of batteries in implants is sometimes unmanageable, the operation life can be extended by converting kinetic energy from body movements into electrical energy. One challenge is that human motions are characterized by large-amplitude movements at low frequencies and most generators are optimized for small-amplitude movements at higher frequencies. Our goal is the development of wearable kinetic energy harvesting systems.

For the world EXPO 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan we were invited to showcase two different systems for harvesting body energy in the Kinetic Lab of their ‘Future Energy’ museum.

• Armbruster, P., Oster, Y., Vogt, M., & Pylatiuk, C.: Design of a mechanism for converting the energy of knee motions by using electroactive polymers. Biomedical Engineering/Biomedizinische Technik, 2017. 

• Brunner, S., Gerst, M., Pylatiuk, C.: Design of a Body Energy Harvesting System for the Upper Extremity. Current Directions in Biomedical Engineering 3(2): 1-2, 2017.

• Kränzler, C., Nagel, J., Pylatiuk, C.: Harvesting kinetic energy to supply autonomous lighting on Nordic Walking poles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P: Journal of Sports Engineering and Technology, 228(2):136-146, 2014.
• Pylatiuk, C. et al.: Kinetic energy scavenging in a prosthetic foot using a fluidic system. Biomedizinische Technik/Biomedical Engineering, 58(4):353-358, 2013.