A Novel Low-Cost Mechanism for Energy Generation through Footsteps

Energy is the primary concern of the modern era and the requirement of energy is being increased day by day; energy resources are not sufficiently available for sustainable development. It is crucial to generate affordable and pollution-free sources of energy to meet this required demand. Walking is a common daily activity for humans; the kinetic energy from walking is converted into mechanical energy. Moreover, this energy is converted into electrical power using a rack-and-pinion mechanism which is simply a non-conventional method of producing electric current. In this research study, a simple and low-cost rack-and-pinion mechanism with a flywheel is introduced to enhance the performance and efficiency of energy conversion from kinetic energy to mechanical energy and subsequently into electrical energy. The results showed that the proposed footstep floor tile generated an average power of 3 watts for a 0.5 s duration with a peak load of 60 kg. The electrical energy produced per step was noted as 1.8 Joules. A percentage of 75% of the total potential energy theoretically accessible was transmitted by the energy-harvesting paver, and 50% of it was successfully converted into electricity. The generated energy is stored in a backup battery bank system and can be used to charge smart devices, providing a cost-effective and pollution-free solution.