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Sole that never slips

02.06.2020

Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a sole that never slips. Scientists have created a product inspired by kirigami (Japanese art of paper craft using scissors).

The snakeskin-patterned metal plate is the latest development of American engineers to be used in the textile industry. Soles based on this material will protect not only people from falling, but also soft robots. The design of the novelty consists of many overlapping scales, which are assembled in the manner of kirigami.

In the flat state, the sole remains smooth, but at the slightest bend its scales will stand on end and cling to the ground. At the same time, they weigh much less than traditional spikes. Compared with conventional materials, kirigami increases friction by 20% - 35%. This indicator was confirmed by numerous tests on ice.

Researchers believe that the novelty will save many lives, because falling is a common cause of death for the elderly.

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Electric current from microwaves 13.11.2013

Using inexpensive materials tuned to capture microwave signals, researchers at Duke University (USA) have developed a power device with the efficiency of modern solar panels.

The wireless device converts microwaves into direct current, which is enough to recharge the battery of a cell phone or small electronic device. The device works on a similar principle to solar panels, which convert light energy into electrical current. But this versatile device, its creators say, can be configured to collect signal from other sources, including satellite signals, audio signals or Wi-Fi signals. The secret of the new device lies in the use of metamaterials (materials whose properties are determined not by the properties of the constituent substances, but by an artificially created structure). The metamaterial can capture various forms of wave energy and turn it into useful electricity.

The developers of the device used a series of five fiberglass and copper conductors connected to each other on a mounting plate to convert microwaves into 7,3 volts of electrical energy. In comparison, USB chargers for electronic devices provide about 5V. Currently, according to the researchers, the efficiency of their device is at the level of 37%, which is comparable to the efficiency of solar panels. But such an energy converter can use any frequency of radio waves, as well as vibration and sound energy, to generate electricity.

Until then, most of the work with metamaterials was theoretical, but now scientists from Duke University have proven that such a material can be useful for user devices. The developers suggest that the metamaterial cover can be attached to the ceiling of a room and configured to pick up a Wi-Fi signal that would otherwise be simply “lost”.

With minor modifications, metamaterials can be built into mobile phones, allowing the phone to charge wirelessly. Thus, if people live in places where there is no access to a conventional outlet, the phone can be charged from the radiation of neighboring cell towers.

The advantage of the invention of scientists from Duke University is the low price. In addition, composite batteries are self-contained, so if you need to increase the capacity, you can simply add a few more elements.

The scientists say their innovative power converter, which picks up signals from satellites, for example, can power instruments in a remote location, in the mountains or in the desert - where research is being conducted and instruments for long-term observation and measurement may be required.

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