Engineering news
British technology firm Pavegen Systems has launched a triangular version of its power-generating pavement tiles which harness up to 20 times more of the kinetic energy in footsteps.
The technology’s creator, Laurence Kemball-Cook said: “We’ve learned so much in the past six or seven years. We took that and started again and now have a strong new brand and product.
"We want to be the 'intel inside' smart cities. Our technology can be inside every building and even every shoe.”
The company's tiles are now triangular, have less components, use 60% less material, and have smaller generators. They are modular, to make them easier to pack and send to customers.
Craig Webster, the company’s chief technology officer, said: “It is really important to capture every step – a triangle does that. A triangle can articulate in a safe and efficient way.”
The new technology creates 200 times more energy per footstep. Every tile has an electronic system which can determine the rate at which power can be taken – but the tiles do not effect each other – they work together.
The tiles can also collect data, such as heat, monitor foot fall traffic, and energy. The technology can connect to smart phones to allocate steps to your “account” – in the future businesses might reward consumers for helping to power them by giving you money off purchases or allowing consumers to donate the rewards to third world countries.
Jeff Martin, Pavegen investor and chief executive of smartphone software company Tribal Planet, said: “Energy is abstract – it’s not relevant to consumers. This technology allows people to understand it and use it how they wish. Consumers will go where their footsteps count – it gives people a vote."
The company has secured contracts with Westfield Stratford where it supplied 175 generators and with the Federal Government in Washington where its tiles will power external lighting. It is also using its technology to power lighting in Bird Street, near Oxford Street in London.