ADAPTIVE, LOW-IMPACT VEHICLE ENERGY HARVESTER

摘要

An adaptive, low-impact vehicle energy harvester system, and a method of harvesting vehicle energy, is provided. The system includes a plurality of channels disposed longitudinally in a trafficway, wherein each of the plurality of channels includes one or more compressible, elongated hollow bodies such that a movement of a vehicle along the trafficway causes contents in the elongated hollow bodies to be expelled from one end, a motor in communication with the hollow bodies such that the contents expelled from one end of the hollow bodies actuate the motor, and a control unit that varies a resistance to the movement of the contents in the elongated hollow bodies based on at least one of a mass of the vehicle, a velocity of the vehicle, and a rate of change of velocity of the vehicle.

主权项

1. A system for converting energy of a moving vehicle into useful power, the system comprising:
one or more compressible, elongated hollow bodies configured to be disposed longitudinally on or in a trafficway such that a movement of a vehicle along said trafficway causes contents in said elongated hollow bodies to be expelled from one end; a motor in communication with said hollow bodies such that said contents expelled from one end of said hollow bodies actuates said motor; a control unit that varies a resistance to a movement of said contents in said elongated hollow bodies.