Recharge Your Laptop without Plugging It In

Pedal powerMIT students have come up with a way to recharge your laptop without plugging it in. Rather than consuming electricity, you'll be burning calories--your own.

The students designed and built an exercise bicycle that uses "pedaling power" to charge a laptop computer. As the bike's instructions note, if you have trouble "squeezing in that daily exercise," you can now "multitask with no problem--[you can] bike while you work!"

The bike seat is adjustable and the laptop easily moved, so a person of any height can produce an arrangement that's comfortable and ergonomic for both pedaling and computing. A cover over the wheel ensures that the rider's clothing won't get caught, and a clear plastic box encloses the electrical components but leaves them visible to curious observers.

In preliminary calculations, the students predicted that a bicyclist should be able to produce up to 75 watts continuously--far more than the 30 watts needed to power the laptop. Indeed, in an initial test drive, team member Figari easily generated 50 watts while checking his e-mail.

Source: MIT News
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