Piezoelectric Test in Prosthetics: Energy harvesting

CHAPTER 1

ENERGY HARVESTING

This works present the design of an energy
harvesting system using smart materials
for self power generation of upper and
lower prosthetic legs. The smart materials
like Piezo Composites, Piezo Flexible Film,
Macro Fibre Composites, and PZT have
been employed and modified to be
appropriately embedded in the
prosthesis.

The movements of the prosthesis would
extract and transfer energy directly from
the piezoelectric via a converter to a power
management system. Afterward, the power
management system manages and
accumulates the generated electrical energy
to be sufficient for later powering electronic
components of the prosthesis.
The experimental results of energy
harvesting and efficiency in peak
piezoelectric voltages during step up and
continuous walking for a period of time.
One of the most interesting sources for
energy harvesting is environmental
vibrations.

The devices that have been used are
piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electrostatic,

Reference: Piezoelectrics in Prosthetics: Energy Harvesting Paperback – 25 Apr 2016 by Dr Kesorn Pechrach Weaver PhD (Author)