Wearing your battery on your sleeve
Imagine being able to use electronic devices by simply
plugging them in to your clothing. If some scientists
in Australia have their way, thats just what
youll be doing in the future.
An illustration of the Flexible Integrated Energy
Device (FIED) showing the flexible batteries
Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) are
developing a new technology called the Flexible
Integrated
Energy Device (FIED) that could have a range of
applications, from military to medical.
Principal research scientist with CSIROs Energy
Technology Division, Dr Adam Best, said the technology
would be incorporated into a piece of clothing
and would comprise three components: Advanced,
conductive fabrics as part of the battery; a vibration
energy harvesting device; and a rectifier/power
management
system to power electronic equipment.
It will look like an ordinary garment, but will have
extraordinary capabilities, Best said. As the person
wearing the
garment moves, the vibrations they create can be
harvested and channelled into recharging the battery
or powering plug-in electronic device or devices.
We have combined the areas of energy harvesting,
energy storage and advanced fibre development to
create the integrated battery technology, he added.
The device will be used to store and provide energy
over a continuous period of time. It can be charged by
plugging into an electrical power point or through
vibration energy harvesting.
This kind of technology has important applications
for soldiers in the field and could mean they no
longer need to carry heavy batteries, Dr Best said.
Essentially, theyd be wearing the battery, he said.
There are a range of other civilian applications for
the FIED, including communication devices such as
radios and mobile phones, small electronic devices
including MP3 players, and sports wear.
The researchers say it could also be used in medical
devices such as vital sign monitoring systems.
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