The Advanced Shoes With TENG Technology

Blog Credit : Trupti Thakur

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IIT Indore Introduces The Advanced Shoes With TENG Technology

IIT Indore has created advanced  shoes using a special technology called Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG). These shoes are designed to improve safety and efficiency for armed forces personnel but could also be useful in many other areas.

What is TENG Technology?

TENG technology works by turning the movement of your steps into electrical energy. As you walk, the energy from each step is collected and stored in the shoe. This stored energy can then be used to power small electronic devices. The shoes also have built-in GPS technology, which allows for real-time location tracking. This feature helps military personnel stay aware of where they are and coordinate better with others.

Safety and Efficiency in Military Operations

The real-time location data from the shoes can greatly enhance safety and coordination for soldiers, helping them stay connected and aware of their environment. Beyond military use, these shoes could also be useful in sports for tracking athletes’ movements and in health monitoring for elderly people, children, and even for managing attendance in factories.

Delivery to DRDO

The first set of 10 pairs of these high-tech shoes has been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing and evaluation. This project is led by Professor Suhas Joshi at IIT Indore, with support from Professor I A Palani, demonstrating the institution’s dedication to developing cutting-edge technology.

About Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG)

Tribo-Electric Nanogenerators (TENGs) are devices that turn movement into electrical energy using a special effect called the triboelectric effect. They work by using two different materials that create an electric charge when they touch and then separate.

TENGs can collect energy from things we do every day, like walking or feeling vibrations. They can be made from a variety of materials, including polymers (a type of plastic) and metals, which makes them very flexible and useful. They are lightweight and can be easily worn, making them ideal for use in wearable technology.

These devices are also helpful in powering sensors in places where it’s hard to get power, like remote or isolated areas. This makes them valuable for applications in the Internet of Things (IoT), which connects devices over the Internet. TENGs can be quite efficient, converting more than 60% of the mechanical energy they capture into electrical energy. This high efficiency shows that TENGs have great potential as a source of sustainable energy

 

OverView:

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Indore has delivered 10 pairs of Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG)-based shoe sole energy harvesting units to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which will help in live location tracking of jawans and can help improve the performance of athletes as well.

Developed in collaboration with DRDO, the shoe harnesses energy from human motion to power electronic devices and with help of a satellite-based GPS module offers precise live location tracking, IIT Indore said.

Other than the military use, these TENG-powered shoes have the potential for civilian and industrial applications. Families can use the shoes to keep a tab on elderly members, especially those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Parents, too, can monitor their children’s whereabouts throughout the school day, and schools can use RFID technology to maintain accurate attendance records.

In industrial settings, the shoes can be used for attendance tracking and to monitor workers, the release said.

The shoes can also be used to analyse athletes’ foot movements, which can help improve performance and training techniques.

For trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts, the self-powered GPS feature can be used to ensure safety and efficient navigation, it added.

The R&D breakthrough showcases a significant leap in integrating sustainable energy solutions with advanced tracking technologies. The shoes have been developed under the guidance of Prof I A Palani, faculty at IIT Indore, a statement from the Institute said.

“The military applications of this technology are noteworthy. The real-time location tracking capabilities enhance the safety and coordination of military personnel, boosting operational efficiency and security. The TENG-powered shoes can support essential GPS and RFID systems, providing a self-sustaining and dependable solution for various military needs,” IIT Indore Director, Prof Suhas Joshi, said.

These advancements offer sustainable and practical solutions for a wide range of needs, highlighting IIT Indore’s pivotal role in pioneering the future of defence technology, Joshi added.

Prof Palani said, “The TENG system in these shoes utilises advanced tribo-pairs, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) and Aluminium, to generate power with each step. This energy is stored in a central device within the shoe sole, ensuring a reliable power source for small-scale electronic circuits.

Additionally, the shoes feature sophisticated tracking technology, including RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) with a 50-metre range and a satellite-based GPS module, for precise live location tracking.”

 

 

 

Blog By : Trupti Thakur