In a project funded by electronics giant Samsung, a team of Penn State materials scientists and electrical engineers has designed a
mechanical energy transducer based on flexible organic ionic diodes that points toward a new direction in scalable energy harvesting of unused
mechanical energy in the environment, including
wind,
ocean waves and human motion.
Jones and Ph.D. advisor Geoff Hollinger, assistant professor of
mechanical engineering in OSU's College of Engineering, have built a framework for the vehicles to plan energy - efficient trajectories through disturbances that are strong and uncertain, like
ocean currents and
wind fields.
Potential Kinetic
Mechanical Electric Heat Internal Chemical Nuclear Electromagnetic radiation Gemini Center Energy and Climatization Renewable Energy Resources Solar radiation Hydro
Wind Ocean related energy Wave, tidal, thermal gradient, salinity gradient Chemical energy Crops, wood, forest residues, waste Geothermal Internal Gemini Center Energy and Climatization Non-Renewable Energy Resources Chemical energy Fossil fuels coal, oil, gas, peat, tarf, oil shale, marlstone, tar sand Nuclear /
The project's local contractors included: AECOM, Aero
Mechanical Inc., AIS Observers, Aladdin Electric, Badd Brothers, Bay Crane New England, Blount Boats, Challenge Electronics, Communication Systems Inc., DiPrete Engineering, Duffy & Shanley, E.W. Audet, Eagle Elevator, ESS Group, Essex Newbury, Fuss & O'Neill, GeoEnvironmental, GZA, Hart Engineering, Hinckley Allen, Inspire Environmental, Keough & Sweeney, Mayforth Group, Meridan
Ocean Services, Mott MacDonald, National Grid, Rhode Island Fast Ferry's Atlantic
Wind Transfers, Specialty Diving Services, VHB, Waterson Terminal Services, and WF Shea, among others.