Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The results of our research into kinetic energy scavenging for animals including humans, was disseminated outside of TenXsys Inc. to Boise State University College of Engineering and to contacts within the venture capital community. Dr. John Gardner, of Boise State University College of Engineering, was a member of our research team, and so he communicated our findings to others informally. TenXsys Inc. pursued obtaining venture capital to fund a separate firm to continute development of our energy scavenging technology. During this process we shared our findings with several venture capital firms in the form of abstracts and power point presentations.
PARTICIPANTS: Frank Riskey, President and CEO of TenXsys Inc., was the principal investigator. Mr. Riskey managed the project, directed research, reviewed results, and submitted reports. Dr. John Gardner, Boise State University College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, performed modeling, design, and analysis for our effort. Shawn Flagstad, Mechanical Engineer of TenXsys Inc., performed most of the prototyping, experiments, and data analysis. This project provided significant professional development for Mr. Flagstad as he worked in a new area (energy scavenging) with tools he does not use otherwise (MatLab, etc.) in his employment.
Impacts
Findings from our research enabled us to pursue venture capital funding for a new firm that would continue development focused on human applications. We have a tentative funding agreement with Reference Capital of Portland, Oregon. We expect the formation of this new firm, Motionetics, to occur in 2008. Project evaluation narrowed the possible approaches to one candidate, and this overall evaluation of separate prototypes unified the project outcome. Project resources, especially funding, allowed our research team to pursue research that we would otherwise have been unable to pursue. Funding allowed us to spend time on design, modeling, prototyping, and analysis of experiments.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/05 to 08/31/06
Outputs
Following the proposed work plan, an improved motion logging device was developed to gather acceleration data in all three axes at 50 Hz. This new MotionLogger included a lower frequency external crystal for longer battery life and a normally closed magnetic switch on the power lead so that all power could be cutoff using an applied magnet. Data was gathered on additional species beyond avian including primates, equine, and bovine species. The collected data was analyzed using new MatLab algorithms to automate conclusion generation. Initial prototypes were designed in SolidWorks and built by a NIST affiliate, TechHELP at Boise State University. This radical design used a spherical housing covered with magnet wire acting as a coil. Within the sphere are many disc shaped rare earth magnets embedded in indentations of a shell, with another similar assembly mounted on an orthogonal axis within. The intent was to cause motion of this sphere within a sphere by animal
acceleration, covering 2 axes instead of the typical single axis. The resulting movement of the magnets within the coil would produce electrical current. The question was how much force would produce how much electricity. Dr. Gardner of Boise State University reviewed the prototype design and raised concerns of conflicting magnetic fields reducing the resulting electrical current flow. However, the team decided to build and assemble the prototype. Assembly went as planned, though only half of the possible disc shaped rare earth magnets were placed in indents on each sphere in an attempt to reduce conflicting magnetic fields. Testing found that motion in most directions caused one or both spheres to rotate. The team was encouraged to see that a wide variety of common animal motions caused the spheres to move. These motions include torso or limb movements during walking. Electrical output in one axis was relatively low compared to a single axis design, assuming motion was in the same
optimal axis. The team determined a number of factors may be responsible including distance of magnet from coil, the uniform layer of wire spread over the surface of the top sphere, or too many magnets. The next prototype already built but untested also uses rotational energy but is more of a microgenerator along an axis. We also have a linear design to be fabricated. Prototyping is progressing as planned.
Impacts
Economic impact would be largest for human applications followed by bovine applications. TenXsys' designs may be suitable for both applications, whether powering a cell phone or a cattle monitor.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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