Fashion power: The Flexible Integrated Energy Device (FIED) showing the flexible batteries.

Credit: CSIRO

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PERTH: Australian researchers are developing a new line of clothing that will power small electronic devices and automatically recharge through movement.

"It will look like an ordinary garment but have extraordinary capabilities," said principal scientist Adam Best, of the government research body CSIRO's Energy Technology Division. "As the person wearing the garment moves, the vibrations they create can be harvested and channelled into recharging the battery or powering plug-in electronic devices."

Military applications

Pitched as the next generation of integrated battery technology, the Flexible Integrated Energy Device (FIED) will be developed using new innovations in the fields of energy harvesting, energy storage and advanced fibre development.

FIED was one of eight projects selected for funding by the Defence Capability and Technology Demonstrator (CTD) Program, managed by a division of the Australian Defence Force. CSIRO announced yesterday that it will receive A$4.4 million in funding to develop the technology which may have both military and civilian uses.

The material will be made up of three components - a rechargeable battery with low flammability and toxicity, a system capable of harnessing vibrational energy from the wearer, and an advanced type of fabric which conducts electrical signals.

Best explains that the battery is designed to be lightweight and safe, and can be directly charged from a power point. Alternatively, vibrational energy produced by movement of the wearer can either power attached devices, or be channelled to the lightweight battery for storage.

Advanced fabric mesh

But the key to the garments success is an advanced fabric mesh of conductive material providing both mechanical strength and flexibility, which will integrate the battery and channelling systems.

"This kind of technology has important applications for soldiers in the field, and could mean they no longer need to carry heavy batteries," said Best. "Essentially, they'd be wearing the battery, not carrying it," explains Best. "[This funding] means we're a step closer to making the FIED a reality."

The researchers say that the garments will be virtually indistinguishable from regular clothes, with the only visible difference a series of small 'plugs' for attaching electronic equipment.

And further down the track, there are some obvious civilian applications as well. FIED garments would have the ability to integrate with and power many of the small electronic and communication devices we use today, such as MP3 players, mobile phones and even vital medical devices.