Written by Desh

We often see vehicles crossing over a speed bump at a snail’s pace. While it trims down any chances of mishap on road, the vehicles, however, never produce the slightest jot of energy during the process. At the James Dyson Award, one entry aims to create rubber road ribs that not only sense vehicles passing over it, but also generate electricity from the motion. This energy can be stored in a roadside battery and can be further used to power any electrical roadside device or electrical car charge points.

Single rubber housing contains two strips of magnets and a configuration of induction coils. Coils, while they move in an opposite direction to magnetic flux, allows the rib to create highest induction potential. Specifically placed in braking zones, the rubber ribs while retarding vehicle’s speed ensure that maximum energy is harnessed.

The ribs make use of a 45 shore hard natural rubber that is extremely durable and flexible to withstand heavy loads. Other design developments include the use of neodymium magnets, wedge side detail, the cushioning underside detail and flexi-pockets.

Source: http://www.greendiary.com/entry/rubber-road-ribs-gather-energy-from-vehicles-in-motion/

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