University of Michigan researchers are working on an artificial foot prototype (prosthesis) that would allow its user to walk without any extra effort. As the equipment comes with a microprocessor and a 1-watt battery to capture the kinetic energy generated by walking, the effort during the ankle push-off is reduced by recycling and reusing this wasted energy. What it culminates in is a net metabolic energy reduced by 14 percent required to walk.
energy foot 1
energy foot 2
In tests on subjects walking with an artificially impaired ankle, a conventional prosthesis reduced ankle push-off work and increased net metabolic energy expenditure by 23% compared to normal walking. Energy recycling restored ankle push-off to normal and reduced the net metabolic energy penalty to 14%.
energy foot 3
energy foot 4
Related Stories
Couple collects 400,000 recycling cans to foot their wedding bill
When we last talked about the Spokane’s in January they had only begun collecting trash aluminum cans to pay for their wedding. They were able to gather only 40,000 cans then. Nearly six months later and collecting on average one can about every 40...
Researchers develop wastewater recycling solution to keep New Zealand clean
Wastewater if managed intelligently can be brought to numerous constructive uses. Bringing a sustainable management solution for wastewater into limelight is a Victoria University student, who proposed this ingenious method as part of his PhD...
Tires dumped to create artificial reefs, an ecological disaster
Earlier when tires were being dumped into the oceans people thought it was a good idea to get rid of waste and to create artificial reefs, but it completely backfired. In the rough and corrosive environment of the ocean, nylon straps wore out and...
Scientists create artificial leaves that can generate green hydrogen
Making a breakthrough in research is a group of scientists who have developed an artificial leaf that is capable of harnessing light to split water and generate hydrogen. Scientists at the State Key Laboratory of Metal Matrix Composites at Shanghai...
Everything I need to know about atmospheric electricity generator
The impact of atmospheric energy in the form of lightening accompanied by thunders has been probably experienced by all of us during thunderstorms or dust storms. If we can grab even a mere part of this energy, the energy scarcity of the entire world will
