Harvesting Electric Power from Walking

Combat units operating on foot in remote regions are highly dependent on electrical energy for communications, navigation and sensing. As the use of electronic devices on the battlefield increases, so will the need for electrical energy independence. At present, power is provided by carrying a large weight of batteries (as much as 20 lbs), which when added to their usual 80-lb packs, represents a crushing burden resulting in reduced performance and back/joint injuries. To address this need, we previously invented and patented a device (the Suspended-load Backpack) that not only generates a large amount of electricity, but does so while reducing body forces and reducing metabolic cost. Several major roadblocks were addressed during Phase I, and the primary objective of Phase II is to ruggedize the backpack for manufacture and military deployment.