The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore has achieved a remarkable feat by developing real-time tracking shoes equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers. These cutting-edge shoes are designed to enhance the safety and operational efficiency of military personnel by enabling precise tracking of their location.
What sets these shoes apart is their ingenious power source. They harness the energy generated from each human step using a technology called Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG). This innovative approach eliminates the need for external batteries, making the shoes self-sufficient and reliable.
IIT Indore has already delivered 10 pairs of these TENG-based shoes to the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) for further testing and deployment. The institute's director, Professor Suhas Joshi, emphasized the significance of real-time location tracking in boosting the safety and coordination of military personnel.
The potential applications of these shoes extend beyond the military domain. They can be utilized to track the movement of Alzheimer's patients, ensuring their safety and well-being. Schools can also benefit from this technology by keeping track of children's whereabouts, providing an additional layer of security.
Additionally, industries can employ these shoes for workforce monitoring and attendance tracking. The athletic industry can also leverage this technology to analyze athletes' foot movements, potentially leading to performance improvements.
The principal investigator behind this innovation, Professor IA Palani, elaborated on the technical aspects of the shoe. The TENG system employs advanced tribo-pairs, Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene (FEP) and Aluminium, to generate power with each step. The energy is stored in a central device within the shoe sole, powering the electronic circuits responsible for RFID and GPS tracking.
