Chin Up! Clean Energy Is Closer Than You Think

Ever wished you could generate electricity while you chew? Perhaps not. But, thanks to a pair of innovative Canadian engineers this far-fetched idea is now a reality. The team has invented a unique chin strap that harvests energy used to chew and turns it into usable electricity.

Clean and compact electricity

While it sounds like a novel idea, the engineers have big plans for the next generation technology and claim that it could soon replace bulky batteries in hearing aids and other small personal gadgets. Dr Aidin Delnavaz and Dr Jeremie Voix, both mechanical engineers at Montreal’s École de Technologie Supérieure, maintain that human jaw movements could be an efficient and eco-friendly method of harvesting clean and natural energy.

During their research the pair investigated an array of different energy sources, including everything from naturally occurring ear canal heat to basic head movements. Eventually the jaw was identified as the most powerful of them all!

"We went through all the available power sources that are there," explains Dr Voix in an interview. "But on the way, we realised that when you're moving your jaw, the chin is really moving the furthest. And if you happen to be wearing some safety gear ... then obviously the chin strap could be actually harvesting a lot of energy."

But how did they make this incredible invention?

The major component is the use of a ‘smart’ material which generates electricity when stretched. The concept has a huge amount of potential however the prototype’s efficiency must be increased by at least 20 before it could serve a purpose. That said, the researchers maintain that boosting electrical charge is simply a matter of adding more layers of the smart material. 

What’s next?

This cutting edge invention has a huge amount of potential for individual use, however we also feel that it could be used for the greater good. Below are some of the scenarios we think an electrically charged chin strap would be awesome:

• In a restaurant

We love the idea of chin straps being used to power a restaurant. After all, restaurants are all about eating and there are guaranteed to be plenty of moving jaws!

• In the cinema

Movies are full of the sounds of munching and crunching so why not turn these into clean electricity? The energy could be used to power audio and visual elements and allow viewers to enjoy an eco-friendly trip to the flicks.

• At a concert

What could make a concert more interactive than the crowd controlling the sound system with their very own jaws? Chewing gum could be issued at the gate and used to power everything from spotlights and amplifiers to electric guitars and microphones. The more people chew, the louder the volume!

• At the office

Could electricity generating chin straps soon be used to power an entire office block? Why not? Every time an employee sits down for lunch or a snack they could throw on a chin strap, consume their food and power their office block in the process.  

Can you think of any scenarios where an electrically charged chin strap would come in handy? Let us know in the comments section.

With fossil fuels running out, many people, like Dr Aidin Delnavaz and Dr Jeremie Voix, are striving to find a replacement energy source. Some favour clean, renewable sources, but is green energy a worthwhile investment? We find out in this recent article.