Flooring System with Pivotable Generators for Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flooring systems that generate electricity from foot traffic are inefficient and pose trip hazards due to independently movable tiles, which create uneven surfaces when stepped on.
Innovation Solution
A flooring system comprising a network of tiles supported by pivotable generators that convert linear motion into electricity while maintaining a stable surface, using a biasing mechanism to minimize displacement and prevent trip hazards, and integrated data processing for monitoring footsteps and occupancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If independently movable tiles are used to generate electricity from foot traffic, then energy harvesting capability is improved, but trip hazards are created due to uneven surfaces when tiles move relative to neighbours
Solution Approach 1:
The flooring system is divided into multiple independent tiles, each with its own generator assembly. This segmentation allows each tile to move independently to harvest energy while maintaining overall floor functionality. The modular design enables energy generation from foot traffic without requiring the entire floor to move uniformly.
Solution Approach 2:
A pivotable support mechanism acts as an intermediary between the tile and the generator. This intermediary component allows the tile surface to remain relatively stable while enabling the generator to move and generate electricity. The pivotable support decouples the tile's positional stability from the generator's motion capability, resolving the conflict between surface stability and energy harvesting.
2Power
If tiles are made movable to enable energy generation, then electricity production is improved, but surface stability deteriorates creating uneven surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The tile, generator, and pivotable support are merged into an integrated assembly. This combination ensures that the generator moves with the tile in a controlled manner, preventing excessive relative motion between adjacent tiles. The integrated design maintains surface stability while enabling electricity production through coordinated movement of all components.
Solution Approach 2:
The flooring system incorporates dynamic elements that allow controlled movement. The pivotable support enables the tile-generator assembly to adapt to foot traffic dynamically while returning to a stable resting position. This dynamic behavior allows energy harvesting during use while maintaining surface stability when not in use.
3Reliability
If support displacement is minimized to prevent trip hazards, then user safety is improved, but energy generation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The generator utilizes periodic motion from repeated foot steps to generate electricity. Each foot step provides a periodic impulse that moves the generator, and the biasing means restores it to the resting position for the next step. This periodic action accumulates energy generation over multiple steps while keeping individual displacement small, balancing safety with efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of displacement from large single-step movements to small cumulative movements over multiple steps. By using a biasing mechanism, the generator is restored to its initial position after each small displacement, allowing multiple small contributions to energy generation while maintaining user safety through limited displacement at any given time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively generates electricity from foot traffic without creating trip hazards and provides accurate monitoring of footstep location, direction, and occupancy, enhancing user safety and energy harvesting efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a motion converter which converts linear progression caused by traffic-related impulse forces, to be converted to rotational motion for driving the rotor of an electricity generator
Implementation Method 2
driving the rotor of an electricity generator
Implementation Method 3
Each support 110 is biased by biasing means towards a rest location to provide a restoring force following displacement
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b
Figure 2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a flooring system for generating electricity from users as they walk. A flooring system (1) for characterising a footstep (2), comprising: a plurality of tiles (200) for supporting one or more people; and a plurality of sensors (100x, 100y, 100z), each sensor (100x, 100y, 100z) arranged to generate a signal representing a force applied thereto, wherein each tile (200) is supported by at least three sensors (100x, 100y, 100z), the flooring system (1) further comprising a data processing system (1001) in communication with each sensor (100x, 100y, 100z) for receiving the signal generated thereby, wherein for each tile (200): the data processing system (1001) is arranged to produce output data by comparing the signals received from the sensors (100x, 100y, 100z) supporting that tile (200) to estimate the location of a footstep (2).