Wearable electromagnetic energy-harvesting textiles based on human walking

Abstract

The need for self-generating energy for outdoor environments is growing. To cope with emergencies in outdoor environments, sustainable, environment-independent energy-harvesting methods based on natural human movements are necessary. In this study, we developed a wearable energy-harvesting textile with a structure capable of generating the maximum energy from the swinging motion that occurs during walking. Two types of conductive yarn were manufactured and, when used as coils, are as durable as wire coils and have excellent flexibility and wearability, allowing easy integration into outdoor garments. Design variables related to the effect of energy production were investigated and the wearable energy-harvesting textile was evaluated by the average current generated. The conductive yarn coils can be connected in a serial circuit method and were evaluated to generate energy at a greater efficiency than wire coils. The average current increased as the number of turns of coil, the magnetic field, and the coil swing speed increased. The average currents along the distance between the magnet and the coil varied with magnet forces inversely proportional to distance.