I New Idea Homepage

Certainly we’re all different: some people simply enjoyed the rock music, while some others were converting the music into electricity with their “Sound Charge” T shirts. T- Shirts?! Completely right, and the high-tech tee each can generate about 6 watt-hours of electricity to power two mobile phones or one smartphone, with a modified piezoelectric film that acts as an oversized mic by absorbing sound waves and some interlaced quartz crystals that converts the acoustic signals into electricity.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Obviously a bridge could do more things than we would ever think of. According to Italian designers Francesco Colarossi, Giovanna Saracino and Luisa Saracino, a bridge is expected to offer electricity energy while still ensuring a convenient transportation. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Solar panels are used almost everywhere and this time they appear on these Urban Cargo Pants especially made for busy workers. Soft and easy wash, the stylish pant can also offer electricity energy with independently functioning power supply built in two side pockets. Thus whenever you need to recharge a cellphone, you would find help from the pants, isn’t amazing? But to spend $920 on one pant? It must be kidding! [Read the rest of this entry...]

Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. recently announced a new hybrid energy harvesting device that can convert both heat and light into electricity. Different from other devices that generate electricity from heat and light with the help of other devices, this one from Fujitsu can manage that process all by itself. Furthermore, the hybrid device is also believed to “pave the way to the widespread use of highly efficient energy harvesting devices” due to its low cost. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Based on the same principles as a hydroelectric power station, Leicester De Montfort University industrial design’s graduate Tom Broadbent invented a creative device that harvests energy from waste water falling through the pipes of high-rise buildings. Though the “HighDro Power” is not that effective in producing large amount of energy, it does have provided us a possible solution to recycle the waste water. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Since we can produce some energy while riding a bike, why don’t we utilize that to do more things? An Instructables.com user asked that question before making the USB Bike Generator and now the designer wants to share the interesting experience with you guys. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) has finally developed the stylish solar power glass after lengthy years of research. The system is constructed of rows of pyramid-shaped glass receptors, which will change their directions all the time to keep track of the sunlight. All the energy is stored in a small photovoltaic cell built in the center of each pyramid. The transparent design not only makes the system eye-pleasing and attractive, but means light could pass through the system more effectively for energy storage. [Read the rest of this entry...]

At TOY Forum 2010, Sony’s bio-battery has drawn many people’s attention. It shows how batteries generate electricity from carbohydrates. Experiments indicate that grape juice is the most efficient drink for the bio-battery to run on and 3ml of Coke could have an electrical propeller keep working for about 1 hour. Named as ‘ENE’ (Entertainment New Energy), the technology will firstly be adopted to power electronic toys. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Designed by Hung-Uei Jou, the so-called ‘Green Noise’ is a self-powered runway light that converts annoying noises of the airports into useful electricity. All energy converted by the system is used to power the onboard runway lights and therefore reduce the airport’s energy requirements. The system also features a tripod base, which allows the modular structure to be easily removed for maintenance. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Still remember the Jumping Light? Similarly, the battery charger designed by Jooyong Kim and Sungkyung Kim also makes a full use of the kinetic energy generated when you jump the rope. Put the rechargeable batteries into the rope’s handles, close the caps, keep jumping and then you’ll get full-charged batteries. That’s so easy! Ensuring you to master the latest information of the calories you’ve burned, the available energy to charge the batteries, etc, the device also comes with a screen on the handle. [Read the rest of this entry...]

No wonder we’re being told that even the most astute consumer hardly compete a less calculating businessman. Just look at the ‘e-cart’, it is a clear and present proof of that. According to the designers, the shopping cart would generate a considerable amount of electricity while you push it, and with the harnessed energy, the store can last almost one month, without any extra power supply. That’s really incredible! Anyhow, it’s still a creditable attempt. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Those who love mobile games surely know the problem in supporting them, yes, you have to charge the phone from time to time and that really bothers you a lot. Mikhail Stawsky’s ‘Mikhail Stawsky’ here seems to be an ideal solution to that problem. No longer need an extra charger; you can just spin the phone around your finger to charge it. Well, I wish this were not merely a conceptual product. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The Solar Roadway is new replacement to current petroleum-based asphalt roads. It is constructed with a series of solar panels, each individual one comprising three parts (a road surface layer, an electronics layer and a base plate layer). Solar energy collected by these solar road panels, Scott Brusaw claimed, would meet a whole country’s basic electricity needs. And the first roadway (30cm thick, generating 7.6kwh of electricity per day) has been developed successfully, though at a high cost of up to 6900 dollars.

More information after the break.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

The innovative device is a new kind of floating island that is used to purify the water. Powered by exercise machines, it will begin to work as soon as several exercise machines are operated together. When the so-called “Synchronicity Island” works, it will firstly pump the water into the four tanks, and then start the whole purifying process. What a nice green machine!

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Nowadays, because of the increasing number of the cars in limited space, parking is becoming one of the most serious problems to city life. Although this parking system, driven by solar energy, is not as cool as the one in movie ‘I.Robot’, it can arrange the cars vertically, saving a lot of space. In addition, this parking system can also be used to charge electric cars.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Not long ago, a so-called Dynario fuel cell by Toshiba was finally unveiled. Specially designed for mobile devices, once the mini fuel cell is filled with methanol, it then generates electric power (5V, 400mA) and supplies it to the mobile gadgets via USB. One such device can hold 14ml of fuel, enough to charge two batteries.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Though everyone wants to be a smart consumer, there’re still some details that may ruin our careful and rational planning. The number one enemy is heavy consumption of electrical power caused by those not-in-use chargers and devices. So to provide a good solution, presenting here is an innovative E-rope by Miju Kim. It is a modular power strip that allows you to assemble several needed sockets in any shape you may want. More important, E-rope also helps to cut down the undue wastage of power because it prevents appliances from costing extra electrical power even if they’re inserted in the socket.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Based on Faraday’s Laws of Induction, the musical pen from China can generate power and store it in the built-in battery as you write with it. The shake movements and music has earned for it the nickname “Shake Shake Radio Pen”. For the sake of an effective use, the radio pen is embedded with a volume/channel controller, a speaker and an earphone socket as well. So get one “Shake Shake Radio Pen” and complete your assignments with joy!

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Have you ever realized your skin can generate electricity? The Dyson energy bracelet gives you a definite answer. Inspired from “Seeback effect”, the energy bracelet can generate electricity and charge your mobile phones when you desperately need it.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Making electrical cars is the major trend of motor industry. However, charging is not an easy thing, and the traditional electric generating way is actually not entirely eco-friendly. This station comes with a solar layer on the top and so it can offer energy with a greener way.

[Read the rest of this entry...]

Two retired physics of a company designed a new electric generator by using wave energy. It is filled with water and fixed by a stick. Therefore, swing along with the wave it will be squeezed to drive the turbine at the other end to generate power.

Video after the break. [Read the rest of this entry...]

In sunny days, most people prefer to close the curtain to prevent strong sunshine. Sunshine is blocked but we lost energy at the same time. Is there any way to prevent this kind of energy from being lost?

This curtain is a good idea which comes with a lot of solar panels. Since all of the solar panels are soft, these curtains just like normal ones. But thanks to the sunshine, you will get up to 16,000 watt-hours of electricity by transforming household curtains into flexible, semi-transparent, solar collectors. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This gadget could transfer the kinetic energy into electric power to charge other portable devices. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Sine we all suffering from the lack of energy, why not generate power just by our own. This innovative door from Fluxxlab is actually a power plan which could transform the motion of the spinning door into electricity. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Austrilia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) is working on a new project aiming to generate power from shirts. If it comes true, everybody wearing this shirt could be a power source. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Clemson University physicist Terry Tritt aimed to built a system which could capture and convert the hot of engines into energy with the help of thermoelectric device. He said that more than 60% of the automotive combustion cycle’s output has been wasted. Therefore, if these energy could be captured, it must be a good thing for environment.

He also claims that with the current thermoelectric technology-whose efficiencies range from 7-8%, over 1.5 billion gallons of diesel could be saved each year if applied to heavy trucks only in U.S. [Read the rest of this entry...]

As is shown in the picture below, this miracle tube from US based company Ecowatts could give you extra energy. It means that the law of conservation of energy might be wrong? [Read the rest of this entry...]

Three 9m wind turbines are integrated into the top to generate sufficient power to drive the energy efficient lighting to the building. It’s a cool idea. [Read the rest of this entry...]

This is an exiting idea from two MIT graduate students. They plan to install system generating power driven by the footsteps of walkers. Although it’s not a big source, we will still receive enough power for street lamps based on commuter-heavy areas. [Read the rest of this entry...]

The turbine is a unique design which uses vertical, rather than traditional horizontal, rotation. It is from a Industrial Design Engineering student in the UK, whose name is Ben Storan.

Its efficiency is about three time of current product in market. [Read the rest of this entry...]

Some researchers from several institutes have developed a new stove which is combined with fridge and generator. It could induce the extra heat from burning wood in a stove to a special pipe and generate sound, just like the whistle. And then a linear alternator (which acts like a loud speaker in reverse) can convert the sound into electricity. [Read the rest of this entry...]

A company called Marine Current Turbines will be installing a 1.2 megawatt tidal turbine off the coast of Northern Ireland in August. The SeaGen turbine will be the world’s largest ever tidal current device by a significant margin. It will generate clean electricity for approximately 1000 homes. [Read the rest of this entry...]

June 7, 2007 The possibility of wireless power transfer was come true this week. A team of scientists at MIT demonstrated it by lighting a bulb which is 7 feet away without any wire. The breakthrough moved us one step closer to the point where devices such as cell phones, mp3 players and laptop computers might not even need their bulky batteries to operate.

A team from MIT’s Department of Physics, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, and Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN) has experimentally demonstrated an important step toward accomplishing this vision of the future.

[source]

Recently, researchers from National Tsinghua University in Taiwan have developed a new technology which could help the fuel cell nowadays to increase their efficiency up to 10 times. [Read the rest of this entry...]

With this inverter, you can easily use your laptop or other portable device. It can convert DC power from 12v car lighter or 12v power port into 110 AC power. [Read the rest of this entry...]

NO! This isn’t a helicopter. It’s a flying power plant.

Sky WindPower, a company based in San Diego, California, proposes a fundamental new way to achieving energy.

With four rotors, this H-shaped guy can fly in the sky, but it’s not drived by energy from other sources but wind! While being blowed to generate energy and conveyed to the ground via aluminum cable. the rotors will also form a plane to make itself suspend in the air.

Oh~, m~y GO~D! Thank you for your power! [Read the rest of this entry...]