IIT Indore and DRDO Create Energy-Harvesting Shoes with GPS Tracking
Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 7: The Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) Indore, in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), has developed a groundbreaking shoe that harnesses energy from human motion to power electronic devices. These shoes also feature a satellite-based GPS module for precise live location tracking.
The Institute has successfully delivered 10 pairs of these innovative Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) based shoe sole energy harvesting units to the DRDO under the Ministry of Defence, Government of India. This development marks a significant leap in integrating sustainable energy solutions with advanced tracking technologies.
Military Applications
Prof I A Palani, a faculty member at IIT Indore, led the development of these shoes. The Director of IIT Indore, Prof Suhas Joshi, highlighted the military applications of this technology, stating, “The real-time location tracking capabilities enhance the safety and coordination of military personnel, boosting operational efficiency and security. The TENG-powered shoes can support essential GPS and RFID systems, providing a self-sustaining and dependable solution for various military needs.”
Technological Advancements
Prof Palani explained that the TENG system in these shoes uses advanced tribo-pairs, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) and Aluminium, to generate power with each step. This energy is stored in a central device within the shoe sole, ensuring a reliable power source for small-scale electronic circuits. The shoes also feature sophisticated tracking technology, including RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) with a 50-metre range and a satellite-based GPS module for precise live location tracking.
Broader Applications
Beyond military use, these TENG-powered shoes hold promise for civilian and industrial applications. For families with elderly members, especially those with Alzheimer’s disease, the shoes offer peace of mind through reliable location tracking. Working parents can monitor their children’s whereabouts throughout the school day, and schools can use RFID technology to maintain accurate attendance records. In industrial settings, the shoes are useful for attendance tracking and worker monitoring.
The athletic industry can also benefit from these shoes by analysing athletes’ foot movements, which can help improve performance and training techniques. For trekking and mountaineering enthusiasts, the shoes provide reliable tracking during expeditions with their self-powered GPS feature, ensuring safety and efficient navigation.
Doubts Revealed
IIT Indore -: IIT Indore is a famous engineering college in India where students learn about science and technology.
DRDO -: DRDO stands for Defence Research and Development Organisation. It is an Indian government agency that works on developing new technology for the military.
Energy-Harvesting -: Energy-harvesting means collecting energy from the environment, like from walking, and using it to power devices.
GPS Tracking -: GPS tracking uses satellites to find out the exact location of something or someone on Earth.
Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) -: A Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG) is a device that generates electricity from small movements, like walking.
Prof I A Palani -: Prof I A Palani is a teacher and researcher at IIT Indore who helped guide the project to create these special shoes.
Military Applications -: Military applications mean using the shoes for the army to help soldiers stay safe and work better.
Civilian Applications -: Civilian applications mean using the shoes for everyday people to help them in their daily lives.
Industrial Applications -: Industrial applications mean using the shoes in factories or workplaces to help workers do their jobs more efficiently.
