Abstract

The increasing use of handheld electronics has highlighted the need for sustainable energy sources. Ali et al. (2023) suggested that harvesting kinetic energy using piezoelectric materials was an effective way to generate electricity from human movement. This study examined whether a piezoelectric-enhanced backpack (PB) could generate enough power for small devices. PVDF films were embedded within the bag to create the PBS, which transforms movement into electricity and controls the output to power low- energy gadgets like flashlights. The grade 12 students at Holy Family Academy were the participants of this study who tested the prototype. With the use of multimeter, the energy generated was measured as the participants walked or ran. The effectiveness of the prototype was demonstrated by showing that the energy generated could be used to power a flashlight. This study employed an experimental approach to explore how variables such as physical activities influenced energy generation. The findings indicated that greater energy output is related to greater mechanical stress on the piezoelectric material. Users and Experts assessed the PBS in terms of efficiency, sustainability, and comfort affirming its potential as an alternative energy source with a few improvements. More improvements in energy storage and efficiency were needed to make it practical, and to helped lessen the reliance on traditional throwable batteries.

Keywords: piezoelectric energy harvesting, kinetic energy, human motion, sustainable energy, backpack, renewable energy