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At the latest Super Bowl, we all saw how important a referee’s decisions are when it comes to deciding who’s going to win. And although slow motion and close examination helped, researchers have now created something better – a new technology which they’ve called a hybrid nanogenerator sensor. This sensor is special because it’s self-powered and can make boxing and cricket matches more accurate by helping referees with their calling and training players.
Thanks to the many sensors now available and their ease of use, it’s possible to get more in-depth information about sports. However, for this to work, the sensors need to be small, able to keep going on its own power and not too expensive.
We have two technologies that can turn mechanical energy into electric energy. These are called triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) and piezoelectric nanogenerators (PENGs). They both have different ways of making electricity.
Scientists from India have tried to make a sensor powered by a hybrid nanogenerator that could be used in sports such as boxing and cricket. This combination of machines can help reduce problems, but it still has not been widely used yet.
The researchers used tiny fibers made up of a special material, lithium-modified zinc titanium oxide. They then added layers of copper and different kinds of tapes which had some specific properties. This combination created either a TENG or PENG. The PENG was glued to a cricket bat and stumps – similar to the bases in American baseball. Whenever the ball hit the sensors, it would produce voltage signals that could help decide if it was a goal or not.
Researchers combined different types of devices called PENG and TENG to make a type of machine known as a hybrid nanogenerator. They mounted four of these nanogenerators to a punching bag, which allowed it to recognize and measure the power, accuracy, speed and type of punches used in boxing. This information would help both the boxer and their coach understand their style better. The researchers said that this work could open up possibilities for using nanogenerators in other sports too.
This study was funded by the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO). The results of this study were published in an article called “Piezo/Triboelectric Nanogenerator from Lithium-Modified Zinc Titanium Oxide Nanofibers to Monitor Contact in Sports” on the 2nd February 2023. It can be found online with the DOI number 10.1021/acsanm.2c04731.
