The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system generates power from the weight of vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on a roadway surface. The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system includes a plurality of pneumatic pumps in fluid communication with one another and that are arrayed beneath a roadway surface. The pneumatic pumps are in fluid communication with a storage tank. The vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on the roadway surface compress the plurality of pneumatic pumps as they pass over the pumps, generating pressurized air, which is received by and stored in the storage tank. Preferably, a turbine, such as a Pelton wheel or the like, is in fluid communication with the storage tank. Selective release of the pressurized air in the storage tank drives the turbine, which, in turn, is connected to an electrical generator for generating usable electrical power.

The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system generates power from the weight of vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on a roadway surface. The pneumatic roadway energy recovery system includes a plurality of pneumatic pumps in fluid communication with one another and that are arrayed beneath a roadway surface. The pneumatic pumps are in fluid communication with a storage tank. The vehicles, pedestrians and the like traveling on the roadway surface compress the plurality of pneumatic pumps as they pass over the pumps, generating pressurized air, which is received by and stored in the storage tank. Preferably, a turbine, such as a Pelton wheel or the like, is in fluid communication with the storage tank. Selective release of the pressurized air in the storage tank drives the turbine, which, in turn, is connected to an electrical generator for generating usable electrical power.

A device for generating electricity includes a support; a driving element rotatably mounted on the support; an electricity generator disposed on the support; a circuit board connected to the electricity generator; and a drive assembly disposed on the support and including an input gear and an output gear. The driving element is coupled with the input gear to drive the input gear to rotate, and the output gear is coupled with the electricity generator and driven to rotate by the input gear.

A device for generating electricity includes a support; a driving element rotatably mounted on the support; an electricity generator disposed on the support; a circuit board connected to the electricity generator; and a drive assembly disposed on the support and including an input gear and an output gear. The driving element is coupled with the input gear to drive the input gear to rotate, and the output gear is coupled with the electricity generator and driven to rotate by the input gear.

An autonomous sensor that includes a snap-through buckling beam, a proof mass, an ultra-low-power microcontroller unit, a wireless transmitter, a power management unit, and a power storage unit. The snap-through buckling beam produces mechanical energy. The proof mass is attached to the snap-through buckling beam. The proof mass transfers mechanical energy to two piezoelectric transducers that convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy and produce an output signal. The ultra-low-power microcontroller unit converts the output signal into output data. The wireless transmitter transfers the output data to an external device. The power management unit provides the electrical energy to the ultra-low-power microcontroller unit and the wireless transmitter. The power storage unit is rechargeable, stores electrical energy from the two piezoelectric transducers, and non-replaceable. The autonomous sensor simultaneously harvests energy and measures vibrations in an external environment.

An autonomous sensor that includes a snap-through buckling beam, a proof mass, an ultra-low-power microcontroller unit, a wireless transmitter, a power management unit, and a power storage unit. The snap-through buckling beam produces mechanical energy. The proof mass is attached to the snap-through buckling beam. The proof mass transfers mechanical energy to two piezoelectric transducers that convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy and produce an output signal. The ultra-low-power microcontroller unit converts the output signal into output data. The wireless transmitter transfers the output data to an external device. The power management unit provides the electrical energy to the ultra-low-power microcontroller unit and the wireless transmitter. The power storage unit is rechargeable, stores electrical energy from the two piezoelectric transducers, and non-replaceable. The autonomous sensor simultaneously harvests energy and measures vibrations in an external environment.

An electricity generation system using tire deformation comprises driving mechanisms converting deformation of a tire into a driving force; and an electricity generation mechanism generating electricity using the driving force converted by the driving mechanisms, wherein the driving mechanisms convert only deformation due to expansion after compression of the tire into the driving force.

The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.

The disclosure is directed to methods and systems for provisioning mobile electric vehicles with various operational settings data transmitted over the air. A vehicle or its components may operate according to operational settings corresponding to operational settings data included in the vehicle components. A server that is remote to the vehicle may comprise operational settings data and may transmit operational settings data to the vehicle. The server may transmit operational settings data automatically, such as on a periodic basis, in response to a request, such as from a user or from a vehicle component or anytime new or updated operational settings data are available for the vehicle or its components.

A soft-inflatable exosuit for knee rehabilitation is fabricated in two different beam-like structures (I and O cross-section actuators) and mechanically characterized for their torque performance in knee-extension assistance. The fabrication procedure of both types of actuators is presented as well as their integration into a light-weight, low-cost and body-conforming interface. To detect the activation duration of the device during the gait cycle, a soft-silicone insole with embedded force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) is used. In evaluation studies, the soft inflatable exosuit device is tested for its ability to reduce muscle activity during the swing phase of the knee. Using sEMG (surface electromyography) sensors, the rectus femoris muscle group of a healthy individual is recorded while walking on a treadmill at a constant speed, with and without the soft device.