Self sufficient wireless transmitter powered by foot-pumped urine operating wearable MFC

Taghavi, M.; Stinchcombe, A.; Greenman, J.; Mattoli, V.; Beccai, L.; Mazzolai, B.; Melhuish, C.; Ieropoulos, I. A.

Abstract

© 2015 IOP Publishing Ltd. The first self-sufficient system, powered by a wearable energy generator based on microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is introduced. MFCs made from compliant material were developed in the frame of a pair of socks, which was fed by urine via a manual gaiting pump. The simple and single loop cardiovascular fish circulatory system was used as the inspiration for the design of the manual pump. A wireless programmable communication module, engineered to operate within the range of the generated electricity, was employed, which opens a new avenue for research in the utilisation of waste products for powering portable as well as wearable electronics.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 20, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Dec 10, 2015
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Mar 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 10, 2016
• Journal: Bioinspiration and Biomimetics
• Print ISSN: 1748-3182
• Electronic ISSN: 1748-3190
• Publisher: IOP Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Article Number: 016001
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/1/016001
• Keywords: microbial fuel cell, wearable, urine, foot pump, wireless transmitter, B-BiC, BBIC
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/844699
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/1/016001
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the accepted version of an article published in Bioinspiration & Biomimetics, available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/1/016001
• Contract Date: Mar 9, 2016