Power-generating shoes using a magnetostrictive vibration power generator

Abstract

Luminescent shoes that flash synchronously with walking motion can be used to enhance the safety of night walking. As a means of reducing reliance on batteries, which are typically used as power supplies, the potential use of the energy generated by walking has been investigated, although to date no practical power-generating shoe has been produced. Here, we examine the use of a magnetostrictive vibration generator developed in our laboratory as a power source for power-generating shoes. This generator has advantages over conventional piezoelectric or movable magnet type generators in terms of improved efficiency, higher robustness, and reduced electrical impedance. In this paper, we report on the fabrication method and experimental results obtained from testing the proposed magnetostrictive vibration generator for power-generating shoes.