Biomechanical Energy Harvesting: Optimization, Control and Biomechanics

生物力学能量收集：优化、控制和生物力学

• 批准号: RGPIN-2020-04771
• 负责人: Li, Qingguo
• 金额: $ 1.97万
• 依托单位: Queen's University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=717347
• 关键词: Biomechanical; Energy; Harvesting; Optimization; Control

The ubiquity of portable electronics and wearable devices, and our reliance on them, are constrained by the availability of continual power source. Currently, these devices are almost exclusively powered with batteries. The weight and limited energy in batteries limits the duration of operation and system performance. This is particularly an issue for military, disaster relief workers, field scientists, and other operations in which their success relies on portable electronics. Biomechanical energy harvesters (BMEHs) that generate electricity from human movement during daily activities (walking or running), become a viable alternative to batteries for powering portable electronics. An ideal BMEHs should generate a large amount of electricity without disturbing the user's normal activity. Integrating the understanding of biomechanics with BMEH optimization is the key to achieve this goal. This design methodology has been proven to be effective in wearable exoskeletons development. Properly designed and controlled exoskeletons have been shown to assist the users in decreasing the metabolic effort of walking. However, the design optimization and intelligent control of BMEHs grounded on biomechanics is lacking behind when compared with the exoskeleton field. The short-term objective is to develop BMEH design optimization, and intelligent control methodology in parallel to the understanding of the effects of energy harvesting on human walking biomechanics. Mechanical system of BMEHs will be optimized through selection of proper harvester parameters (e.g., gear ratio, generator, and output electrical load). Three control strategies, open-loop control, human-in-the-loop control, and control with wearable sensors, will be implemented to maximize the power production while minimizing user effort. In addition, a series of human experiments will be performed to study learning, adaptation, gender difference, and gait stability in BMEHs usage. Over a 5yr period, two PhDs and three MScs will be trained in biomechanical system design, control, biomechanics measurements, human experimentation design and data analysis. Research on energy harvesting has a broad impact and could benefit many fields of application. Soldiers may carry up to 25lbs of batteries during a 72-hour mission. Lightening the load and providing innovative power solutions will increase soldiers' autonomy, decrease physical and cognitive burden of a soldier. BMEHs could be a light weight, and low-cost reliable power solution for dismounted soldiers. The advance of energy harvesting technologies will create values for other applications that require reliable continual electricity such as powered prostheses, and wearable sensors for health applications. The knowledge gained also benefits the assistive device and exoskeleton development in energy optimization and power management. Commercialization of these energy harvesting technologies will directly benefit the Canadian economy.

便携式电子产品和可穿戴设备的普遍存在以及我们对它们的依赖受到持续电源可用性的限制。目前，这些设备几乎完全由电池供电。电池的重量和有限的能量限制了操作的持续时间和系统性能。对于军队、救灾人员、现场科学家和其他依赖便携式电子设备成功的行动来说，这尤其是一个问题。生物机械能量采集器 (BMEH) 在日常活动（步行或跑步）中通过人体运动产生电力，成为为便携式电子设备供电的电池的可行替代品。 理想的 BMEH 应该在不干扰用户正常活动的情况下产生大量电力。 将生物力学的理解与 BMEH 优化相结合是实现这一目标的关键。 这种设计方法已被证明在可穿戴外骨骼开发中是有效的。正确设计和控制的外骨骼已被证明可以帮助用户减少行走时的代谢消耗。然而，基于生物力学的BMEH的设计优化和智能控制与外骨骼领域相比还存在差距。 短期目标是开发 BMEH 设计优化和智能控制方法，同时了解能量收集对人类步行生物力学的影响。 BMEH 的机械系统将通过选择适当的收割机参数（例如齿轮比、发电机和输出电力负载）进行优化。将实施三种控制策略：开环控制、人在环控制和可穿戴传感器控制，以最大限度地提高发电量，同时最大限度地减少用户的工作量。此外，还将进行一系列人体实验来研究 BMEH 使用中的学习、适应、性别差异和步态稳定性。在五年内，两名博士和三名硕士将接受生物力学系统设计、控制、生物力学测量、人体实验设计和数据分析方面的培训。 能量收集研究具有广泛的影响，可以使许多应用领域受益。在 72 小时的任务中，士兵最多可携带 25 磅的电池。减轻负担并提供创新的电源解决方案将增加士兵的自主性，减轻士兵的身体和认知负担。对于徒步士兵来说，BMEH 可能是一种重量轻、成本低的可靠电源解决方案。 能量收集技术的进步将为需要可靠持续电力的其他应用创造价值，例如动力假肢和用于健康应用的可穿戴传感器。获得的知识也有利于能量优化和功率管理方面的辅助设备和外骨骼开发。这些能量收集技术的商业化将直接使加拿大经济受益。