Teacher-toddler

Photo by Matt Bohlen, U-M-Flint

Raj Pandian, an assistant professor of engineering science at U-M-Flint, observes a child on a teeter-totter. He has invented a system for harnessing energy from equipment in children's playgrounds and other public places. This is a low-cost, low-resource means of generating electricity.

For this demonstration, Pandian attached air pumps to the underside of a teeter-totter. When children play, air is collected in storage tanks. As it is released, it drives an air-driven generator. When large numbers of children play in a playground, part of the power of their play is harnessed, resulting in significant energy storage. The stored energy can be converted into auxiliary or back-up electric power to operate basic, low-power appliances in the school, such as lights and fans.

His research in human power conversion is funded by a grant from U-M-Flint.

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