Design and Development of a Footstep Energy Harvesting Floor using a DC Generator

Abstract

Indonesia’s demand for electrical energy continues to increase, creating a need for small-scale alternative energy sources. One potential source is mechanical energy from human footsteps, which is normally dissipated as waste energy. This study presents the design and development of a floor-based electricity generator that converts footstep energy into electrical energy using a DC generator. The research employed an experimental method consisting of product design, component selection, fabrication, testing, and data analysis. A mechanical transmission consisting of a floor mechanism, gear, shaft, and spring transfers mechanical energy from a footstep to the DC generator. The generated electrical energy is stored in a lithium-ion battery through a solar charge controller and is subsequently used to power an LED lamp. Experimental results showed an average output voltage of 3.33 V and an average current of 11.31 mA. The measured average energy was 0.045 J, with an average footstep duration of 1.14 s. The highest measured voltage and current were 4.8 V and 12.5 mA, respectively, while the highest recorded energy was 0.072 J. The results indicate that the proposed system can be used as a small-scale renewable energy harvesting device, particularly in locations with high pedestrian traffic.