I read somewhere that the military is working pretty hard on power-boots. Boots that use the wearer's own weight to generate power as they move and walk. It has something to do with two membranes coming together as the wearer steps down and applies pressure. Apparently these membranes generate electrical current when they come into proximity.
I think it is part of that "Landwarrior 2025" program (or whatever it is.)
This seems to be a FAR superior idea to the backpack to me, as you don't have to carry a the extra weight of a loaded backpack to have the system work. After all, why not use your own weight to provide the power?
Currently the system does indeed work, and they are working on improving iffeciency and reliability. Last I heard the really "hacked and cobbled together" testbed can easily power a cell-phone. They expected to increase that power output many times over. Supposedly at least. Whether they ever the same levels of power this backpack does I don't know.
It is my understanding there are no moving parts in the boot system besides the membranes.
Maybe someone with more info on these boots could add to this?
As an aside, I seem to remember hearing something about some military idea to generate electrical current using the wearer's own body heat? Any able to add to this?
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I read somewhere that the military is working pretty hard on power-boots. Boots that use the wearer's own weight to generate power as they move and walk. It has something to do with two membranes coming together as the wearer steps down and applies pressure. Apparently these membranes generate electrical current when they come into proximity. I think it is part of that "Landwarrior 2025" program (or whatever it is.) This seems to be a FAR superior idea to the backpack to me, as you don't have to carry a the extra weight of a loaded backpack to have the system work. After all, why not use your own weight to provide the power? Currently the system does indeed work, and they are working on improving iffeciency and reliability. Last I heard the really "hacked and cobbled together" testbed can easily power a cell-phone. They expected to increase that power output many times over. Supposedly at least. Whether they ever the same levels of power this backpack does I don't know. It is my understanding there are no moving parts in the boot system besides the membranes. Maybe someone with more info on these boots could add to this? As an aside, I seem to remember hearing something about some military idea to generate electrical current using the wearer's own body heat? Any able to add to this?