Knee Brace Could Power Gadgets, Cell Phones

Just strap it on and start walking. Within a minute, you'll have generated enough juice to chat on your phone for 10 minutes. Too bad this budding technology is so expensive.

Researchers at Simon Frasier University in British Columbia say the three-and-a-half pound knee brace can generate about five watts of power while you're taking a stroll, reports Wired Science. The brace itself harvests energy during the "braking phase of the leg's swing," similar to how a hybrid car charges its batteries when you hit the brakes. That means there's no need to walk any "harder" than usual to generate power, although the faster you go, the more juice you'll get.

Pretty cool concept, but don't haul out your wallet just yet. The brains behind the knee brace have launched a startup (dubbed Bionic Power—cool name) are still seeking funding for the brace, which could come in handy for hikers, the military, or even those who depend on artificial limbs. The other problem, as you might guess, is price. According to Wired, the brace itself cost upwards of $1,000, and that's not counting the energy-harvesting technology needed to power your gadgets. That said, if Bionic Power gets off the ground and starts making braces on a large scale, that price could eventually drop to a more reasonable level.

Related:
Knee Brace Harvests Power from Walking [Wired]