At the U.S. Marine Corps Experimental Forward Operating Base ’14 (ExFOB'14) held in Pendleton, California last 14-16 May, the Marines looked at and tested the possibilities of being able to generate their own energy to power essential equipment without relying on batteries that the only power source they need that they don’t generate on their own will be fuel to power their vehicles. While on missions, they will depend less of extra batteries that will take up extra space in their packs, and add more to the total load they will carry.

One of the equipment options are the Lighting Packs, which are backpacks designed to harness energy while the user carrying it is on the move. The up and down motion when moving can generate electricity to operate the equipment that is carried by the soldier.

It's not exactly a very new technology, as Lightning Packs were already in the news since 2005. These packs have been in development by researchers from the University of Pennsylvania who were tasked by the U.S. Military to come out with a lightweight rechargeable battery that soldiers can carry out in the field. A U.S. Soldier in the field carries an assortment of electronic equipments that powering these  require batteries that will take about 20% of the load of the soldier.

With Lightning Packs able to generate energy to power the devices, the Marines can stay for extended durations during missions without worrying about batteries. These backpacks have a generator insider the frame that is driven by mechanical energy generated by the up and down motion while the Marine is on the move. According to Lightning Packs, walking at relaxed pace with a 50lb load would generate 12-15w; walking at hump pace would be 20-35w; and running would be 33-45w.

The Lightning Packs would then be recharging the rechargeable batteries in the devices or can power them directly. No need for spare batteries that will take up space which could be filled up with other essentials such as MREs which would provide more nourishment for the Marine in extended missions.

Now for the question of how to generate power when a Lightning Pack is not available. Others tested are the Kinetic Boots or the PowerWalk which is a contraption that attached to the legs. Power is generated using the braking action of the legs and can generate around 12-watts at normal walking pace according to the Marines Blog.

(PowerWalk, U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Kathy Nunez)

These are interesting products that do have a lot of civilian uses, one example is for disaster-relief personnel who are on the ground with no power sources at all. Outdoors people such as campers, hikers, and mountaineers would love to have such generating backpacks to recharge or power their phones, GPS, radios, and lights. Reaching remote areas such energy harnessing contraptions would be very much needed for survival and communicating to the outside world.

If these further reduced and are turned into fashion accessories that do will not make the wearer look odd, more people would wear them at going to work, doing shopping, walking to school, or at the gym, just imagine the energy being generated by millions or billions of people. If that can be harnessed and distributed through the power grid, our energy needs will be met without worrying about non-renewable energy sources, and environmental problems reduced too!