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.

Citation

Taghavi, M., Stinchcombe, A., Greenman, J., Mattoli, V., Beccai, L., Mazzolai, B., …Ieropoulos, I. A. (2016). Self sufficient wireless transmitter powered by foot-pumped urine operating wearable MFC. Bioinspiration and Biomimetics, 11(1), Article 016001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-3190/11/1/016001

• 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
• 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