Energy Scavenging Ankle Component for Self-Charging Batteries on Prosthetic Limbs

KCF Technologies will develop an energy scavenging device as a component in the ankle of a lower extremity prosthetic limb. The component will be designed and demonstrated on a C-Leg, in collaboration with Otto Bock USA. The component will capture and store energy during normal activities such as walking and running. The captured energy will automatically recharge the batteries of the C-Leg. This energy will greatly extend the operational time of a battery charge, or eliminate the need for battery charge altogether. In Phase I, KCF will model, develop, fabricate and test a prototype energy harvesting ankle component in laboratory demonstrations. We will collaborate with our partners at Penn State University to model the dynamic forces at the ankle joint during walking and running, and use this information to optimize the component design and placement. In Phase II, KCF will demonstrate an energy-scavenging component in-use on an Otto Bock C-Leg.