{"id":667700,"date":"2010-02-17T19:00:00","date_gmt":"2010-02-18T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"Gizmodo-5474004"},"modified":"2010-02-17T19:00:00","modified_gmt":"2010-02-18T00:00:00","slug":"artificial-foot-recycles-energy-with-every-step-bionic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.com\/index\/667700","title":{"rendered":"Artificial Foot Recycles Energy With Every Step [Bionic]"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>Researchers at the University of Michigan have created a prosthesis that makes walking much easier on amputees than current options. The trick: an artificial foot<\/a> that recycles the kinetic energy generated by walking.<\/p>\n

The device works by mimicking the natural push-off of a human ankle, using a microprocessor to control the device and capture the energy normally dissipated by the leg:<\/p>\n

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In tests on subjects walking with an artificially-impaired ankle, a conventional prosthesis reduced ankle push-off work and increased net metabolic energy expenditure by 23% compared to normal walking. Energy recycling restored ankle push-off to normal and reduced the net metabolic energy penalty to 14%.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

That means less cumbersome dragging of an artificial limb and a more natural walking sensation. It also only requires a small battery to operate, running off of less than one watt of power.<\/p>\n