Bionic Power

To the armed forces, equipment for communication and navigation is as critical as food and water. But it comes at a steep price: On a 24-hour mission, a soldier will carry as much as 30 pounds of batteries to power this equipment - significantly limiting his or her range and speed of travel. Due to logistics, delivering portable power is expensive with estimates as high as $57,000 per soldier per year for the cost of batteries alone. The Bionic Energy Harvester can dramatically improve performance, reduce weight, and cut overall costs by slashing the size and quantity of batteries required to complete a given mission. It could also make rechargeable batteries a feasible option for the vast majority of applications currently powered by disposables.

Hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, and other disasters are serious challenges to public safety. In these unfortunate events, the direct effects of nature are compounded by the fact that communication and electricity grids often blackout. Rescue workers depend on battery powered two-way radios and GPS to track down those in need and to stay in communication with each. Delivering batteries to the affected areas is a serious logistical challenge because it is impossible to predict the duration and size of the disaster and stockpiled batteries tend to lose power over time. The Bionic Energy Harvester can power the communication and navigation equipment for rescue workers allowing them to better help those in need while also keeping themselves safe. Unlike batteries, losing charge over time is not an issue for stored Bionic Energy Harvesters. And while batteries supply energy, Bionic Energy Harvesters supply power making them useful for disasters of any duration.

People around the world rely on battery-powered devices that either assist a partly paralyzed limb or replace its function altogether. To this community, quality of life is a direct function of battery weight and charge duration. Our technology can extend the range and confidence of those who rely on such orthoses and prostheses - or on other innovations such as drug pumps and neuro-electric stimulators. Future versions of the Bionic Energy Harvester could potentially be fully integrated into these products, or it could even be implanted subcutaneously, creating a seamless interface between power and product.

Hikers, road warriors, mobile field workers... Bionic Power solutions could benefit anyone who relies on portable electronics for work or play. Our present technology could extend the operating time of mobile phones, GPS, MP3 players, digital cameras, headlamps and similar devices. Since such products are typically designed around their power sources, next-generation Bionic Power solutions could possibly pave the way for a new and exciting era of consumer applications and form factors.