Final year Project 2006/07Final year Project 2006/07

Microcontroller and RF application for wearable power generators

By Jeanette Mannion

Introduction Introduction Power harvesting using wasted energy Energy expended by a person walking can

be tapped to power portable electronic devices.

The foot has proven to dissipate the most energy while walking/running. When walking quickly a person can generate up to 67W.

The sliding magnet structured generator has proven to output the highest voltages and power.

The sliding magnet structureThe sliding magnet structure

This consists of sliding magnets inside a small copper coil.

The magnets slide up and down through the coil causing a voltage to be induced.

The sliding magnet structureThe sliding magnet structure

Work has been carried out on this previously to demonstrate this power

LED’s, a digital clock, and an actual pedometer have been powered by this system

But no sufficient applications have been demonstrated

Project GoalsProject Goals

The ultimate goal of this project isgoal of this project is to build and test a micro controller and RF system

That could use the power produced by wearable electromagnetic generator structures i.e. a pedometer system

And further development of the system with a sensor application

Project background investigationProject background investigation

This project is a combination of two projects:– The wearable electromagnetic generator– And micro-controller pedometer project

Firstly, I will be reviewing the performance of the EM generator, and the existing circuit solutions that have been investigated up until now by another student.

Project OverviewProject Overview

Also the existing pedometer programs will have to be tested for both the transmitter and receiver sides.

The results obtained will help identify the power requirements needed for such a system.

Demonstration of the pedometerDemonstration of the pedometer Once the transmitter and receiver are

placed on the board needed for testing the programs can be downloaded to the micro-controller

A power supply and signal generator will be used

Programs may need to be adjusted Current programs written are so the RF

transmits for a short time Once steps are counted, power can be

investigated

Schematics for transmitterSchematics for transmitter

System improvementsSystem improvements

At this stage the system only counts steps on one foot.

LED’s will need to be changed to an LCD display.

Will need weight and step length inputs. Can improve system functionality by

calculating– Calories burned– Distance traveled– And average speed

Sensor applicationSensor application Further development of system with a

sensor application i.e.– Pressure– Temperature

Possible medical benefits– Obesity prevention– Body fat analysis– Monitoring your heart rate

Time scaleTime scale

Background investigation– 3 weeks

Demo of pedometer system– 1 month

System improvement & sensor app– 1 month

Generator improvements– 1 month (time permitting)

Possible problems encounteredPossible problems encountered

Understanding and tweaking the programs previously written.

time