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Coming Soon: Fabrics That Generate Electricity

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Oh, it also detects pressure.

More piezoelectric goodness: An artificial fabric that combines optical fiber and (you guessed it) piezoelectric technology is in the works, according to a research team in MIT. The material, aside from sensing even tiny amounts of pressure applied to it, can also produce its own power.

We're practically blue talking about piezoelectric components and how they can generate electric currents from vibrations, but MIT's creation is special because of its versatility. The fabric is slated for a wide range of uses, such as detecting potential structural failures, to miniscule ultrasound imagers that can go inside the human body.

No word yet on when MIT's invention will work its way into practical applications, so stay tuned!

15 Comments Comment from the forums
  • N.Broekhuijsen 17 July 2010 07:08
    probably another hopeful project that will end up going bust sometime because of one reason or another.

    I always welcome development though, now lets hope this is one of the few projects that ends up working.
    Reply
  • m-manla 17 July 2010 08:15
    Wish this happens. Man imagine your PSP battery never running out because your clothes is the power source.
    Reply
  • eddieroolz 17 July 2010 08:35
    M-ManLAWish this happens. Man imagine your PSP battery never running out because your clothes is the power source.
    Or walking out in the streets, never running out of battery for your phone because you can recharge as you walk! That would be nice.
    Reply
  • fayzaan 17 July 2010 08:59
    As awesome as it may seem, no one is going to want to allow this. Can you imagine what would happen to batteries if this happened? there would be no need for them. Small things that are powered by AA or AAA batteries would become useless by these type of things affecting business significantly.

    Honestly I think this will just never work out :(
    Reply
  • m-manla 17 July 2010 09:50
    eddieroolzOr walking out in the streets, never running out of battery for your phone because you can recharge as you walk! That would be nice.
    Too bad your bill will lol. Well, thank God for Skype I guess lol.
    Reply
  • maestintaolius 17 July 2010 09:52
    So now we have two sources of power from the body and movement, I'm still waiting on my cyber-brain to hook it up to dang it!
    Reply
  • doive1231 17 July 2010 15:35
    BP will be quaking in their boots. Perhaps it will be good when we don't need oil companies anymore. Just sign up to green electricity and put them out of business.
    Reply
  • N.Broekhuijsen 17 July 2010 18:06
    guys you are all talking about masses of this cloth, and creating entire clothes with it. The article mentions only very small things, nothing large, and that is probably because it is way too expensive to produce. I don't see this making it's way to clothing and then replacing batteries.
    Reply
  • 18 July 2010 11:50
    They make condoms out of them. Just think about the friction!
    Reply
  • cyberkuberiah 19 July 2010 00:47
    fayzaanAs awesome as it may seem, no one is going to want to allow this. Can you imagine what would happen to batteries if this happened? there would be no need for them. Small things that are powered by AA or AAA batteries would become useless by these type of things affecting business significantly. Honestly I think this will just never work out
    Hopefully , not in the US . the regular batteries are not environment friendly . they have a lot of weight , and cost a lot . and besides , although the word fiber is used , it does not necessarily mean clothing outta this .
    Reply