Renewable Energy Generator
As a part of my Cornerstone of Engineering course, I was tasked to "design, build, demonstrate and present an innovative system for energy production." My project group decided to utilize piezoelectric materials to generate electricity from human foot traffic.
Our final paper was published by the American Society of Engineering in the 2017 Annual Northeast Section Conference.
PLANNING
After compiling background information on the functionality and limitations of piezoelectric materials, we brainstormed initial design concepts, and I then created a model in SolidWorks. Due to time and budget constraints, the entire model would not be 3D printed, but rather individual components.
MODIFICATIONS
The 3-D printed parts and plywood were then used to construct the prototype with integrated electronic components. The construction process evoked small changes to the design, which were later reflected in CAD.
FINAL
The final prototype generated around 0.0575W of energy per step. The total cost of the device was approximately $30.58, which given the average cost of electricity, would take around 500 years to pay for itself. While the prototype was bulky and impractical, with optimization and increased cost efficiency, the technology has the potential to become practical in the future.
Extracurricular
I have always enjoyed visual arts, particularly sketching and drawing. I have recently begun to explore digital art, creating commissioned portraits, business logos, and even a children's book. While this type of creative expression has been a long-standing hobby, I have also found it applicable to the engineering design process.
