A wearable generator is an article of clothing that contains some form of electrical generation system built in. The concept encompasses a variety of generation systems intended to supply small amounts of power to keep portable electronics in a good state of charge through natural motions of the body.

Summary

There are many great projects related to

wearable technology Wearable technology is any technology that is designed to be used while worn. Common types of wearable technology include smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smartglasses. Wearable electronic devices are often close to or on the surface of the s ...

or wearable power generation. One concept, for example, is an article of clothing that has the ability to convert the movements of the wearer into

electricity Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter possessing an electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwel ...

using nano- ion pumps. It is based on

nanotechnology Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). At this scale, commonly known as the nanoscale, surface area and quantum mechanical effects become important in describing propertie ...

and has the ability to generate electricity for the purposes of building muscle mass and improving

coordination Coordination may refer to: * Coordination (linguistics), a compound grammatical construction * Coordination complex, consisting of a central atom or ion and a surrounding array of bound molecules or ions ** A chemical reaction to form a coordinati ...

. Emergency workers like firemen and paramedics could use chest-implanted sensors to create a floor plan of unfamiliar buildings; making a rookie perform his job as efficiently as a veteran. With cameras becoming cheaper and smaller, wearable generators may also serve as a quick method to recharge the batteries on those devices. The environmental burden of disposing used batteries has contributed to e-waste; something that wearable generators may drastically reduce. Enough energy can theoretically be harnessed from a person's body heat to power a

smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...

or tablet.

Energy sources

Thermoelectric energy

Thermoelectric generators may transform the body's heat into electric energy. This is the most reliable and stable source of energy when creating wearable generators, as the human body temperature is constant it produces a consistent source of energy, as does the capacity of thermoelectric generators to constantly capture energy in spite of the human condition or position. Traditional thermoelectric generators are inflexible and brittle, making them unsuitable for complicated human body parts. However, a recent study has taken on this challenge and discovered a way of modifying thermoelectric generators in order to adapt to the human body, making them more comfortable to wear. The first self-healing and recyclable thermoelectric generator system with improved stretchability and thermoelectric performance was the product of this research. The technique produces a record-high open-circuit voltage and allows customers to tailor the device to specific thermal and mechanical conditions. High-performance modular thermoelectric chips, dynamic covalent thermoset polyimine, and flowable liquid metal are all used in the system. In addition, to improve thermoelectric performance under sun irradiation, a wavelength-selective metamaterial layer is applied to the cold side of the thermoelectric generator, which is vital for harvesting energy during outdoor activities.

Chemical energy

Chemical energy in the human body acts as an energy source for biofuels cells, which use microbes to convert chemical energy into electrical energy. However, its output power density is insufficient to provide sufficient energy to maintain an electric device operating. As a result, a hybrid energy system was integrated into it in order to provide a stable energy source.

Mechanical energy

Triboelectric, piezoelectric, and electromagnetic energy harvesters facilitate the collection of mechanical energy from human movements which is then converted to electrical energy.

References

{{Levels of technological manipulation of matter Concepts in alternative medicine Hypothetical technology Nanoelectronics