A new product from Danish company, Danfoss PolyPower A/S, has the ability to measure everything from a golfers stance to power. This technology will be great for golfers, but it could also prove to be a new option for harvesting energy.
PolyPower sports sensors are able to measure all kinds of things related to body position and body movement for sports purposes. This allows for sportspeople to be able to greatly improve the way that they approach their sport.
The way that it works is that the material itself is a combination of silicone dielectric material with a thin layer of metallic electrode on top. because of this makeup, it reacts to voltage being applied to it. When a voltage is applied to it, the material then expands in plane, and contracts in thickness. When the material then relaxes, the voltage increases, and mechanical energy is converted to electricity. Because of this, the material could be a great option for harvesting energy.
But, for now, PolyPower is being used for sports sensors. The process above is reversed in this application, and when the material expands in plane, the results are measurable. Recent updates to the product give it wireless capabilities, which will be great if you need to move around a lot.
