| A scientist in Louisiana has developed | | | | These are small "smart" devices which combine the |
| micro-generators that could fit into the sole of a | | | | use of computer chips with tiny mechanical |
| shoe. | | | | components like sensors, gears, actuators and |
| Although the sight of electricity generators is | | | | mirrors. |
| commonplace in such diverse places as building sites, | | | | Dr Kaajakari has been working on the tiny machines |
| campsites and at music festivals, they are hardly the | | | | as part of a project on Micromanufacturing (IfM), |
| easiest items to carry around. The idea that we could | | | | which is based on new regulator circuits which |
| ultimately carry our own generators about with us | | | | efficiently alter the energy measured by a |
| seems like science fiction. | | | | piezoelectric transducer into voltage that can be used |
| All that could be about to change. Scientists in the | | | | to charge batteries or to produce electricity directly, |
| USA have developed a new technology that could | | | | to power other electronic gadgets. |
| lead to tiny generators being implanted in the sole of | | | | Such a process is known as energy harvesting, and is |
| a shoe. | | | | potentially a very efficient method of powering MEMs |
| Dr Ville Kaajakari, an assistant professor of electrical | | | | sensors and devices such as GPS systems. The |
| engineering at Louisiana Tech University (La Tech), | | | | piezoelectric transducer is also a perfect device to |
| revealed recently that he has been working on | | | | generate energy inside a shoe, as it is soft yet |
| development of Microelectromechanical systems, or | | | | hardwearing and able to withstand the shock regular |
| MEMs. | | | | footfalls. |