There’s no denying the fact that marching soldiers carry weighty backpacks with hefty gear. The heavy batteries make them evermore bulky, but they can’t do without them. So, to lighten their burden, the University of Leeds in the U.K. puts its money on eliminating batteries from the shoulder bags. Nothing additional installed, it’s all about harnessing kinetic energy from marching soldiers.
By using the latest materials and electronics combined with taking into account personal differences in walking style, we are confident we can make this work without adding to the burden or fatigue of the soldier wearing the device.
The system, dubbed the “battery-free soldier” project, aims at developing efficient conversion methods. It also hunts for solar and body heat-based technologies.
The $1.5 million plan hopes to introduce piezoelectric devices, knee wraps and backpack straps, with crystals and ceramic materials. While converting kinetic energy into mechanical energy, the devices, especially the knee wrap, will act as the supportive cushion against the knee-bend.