Energy Harvesting with smART Field

Is there any Hokie who don’t know THE Drillfield? Definitely not! Drillfield has been the heart of the campus for decades. The engineers from Energy Harvesting and Mechatronics Research Laboratory are collaborating with the designers from School of Architecture and Design to redesign the Drillfield pathways. Our goal is to make it more modern in both function and shape while keeping its traditional style—we are designing the smART field.

Imagine now if you can generate electricity while walking on the pathways of Drillfield. The energy harvested from pedestrian walking is 100% environmentally-friendly and will be used to charge your cellphone, power ambient lighting fixtures, sense field activities, monitor structure health, etc.

With the amount of people walking across Drillfield everyday, we will be able to raise public awareness of the concept of energy harvesting and energy sustainability. This may be a small step to just power few light fixtures and sensors, however, this can also be a huge step towards a more sustainable future. But we need your help to make this come true! 

Thank you for your support!