Self-Powered System Inspired by Lightweight Triboelectric Nanogenerators Operate Smart Saddles to Protect Equestrians

Highly-skilled equestrians are commonly equipped with advanced moves such as spins, jumps, and other maneuvers without an effort. However, riding a horse excellently does not come at a cheap price. The skill requires a good sense of balance and subtle cues that could connect with the horse's ability—the greatest trick of riders roots to their posture, legs, and seat.

Smart Saddle for Equestrian Sports

In a new study, experts developed a prototype that could heighten all the needed factors in riding a horse. The technology is called a 'smart saddle,' which the authors believe can induce the skills of equestrians. The novel self-powering device is constructed with a specialized system that enhances the biomechanics of a rider.

Throughout the history of sports, several regulations were adjusted to provide a safer environment for participants. Alongside the modifications, devices were also developed to get ahold of the performance statistics in players.

These devices have similar concepts to how smartwatches and other fitness gadgets work. But with the innovation they offer, these tracking devices come in bulky and inflexible designs, adding load and inconvenience to individuals at play. Recent studies attempted to develop smaller systems that will not hinder the users from providing a solution.

One of the new solutions is the lightweight triboelectric nanogenerators or TENGs. The system embedded in the device can convert mechanical energy to electrical form. PhysOrg reported that, in recent years, various industries have jumped to utilizing TENGs for more efficient energy usage. TENG devices can collect energy from movements such as ocean waves and even just by walking, providing a charge of electricity to respective receivers.

TENGs devices can also convert mechanical stimuli to electrical signals through the help of pressure, motion, and touch. In the new research, experts from the College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering of Inner Mongolia University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences adopted the system of TENG technology to smart saddles. The paper's main goal is to produce a certain solution that would keep the players safe from the corresponding dangers of equestrian sports.

Lightweight Triboelectric Nanogenerators and Safety of Equestrian Sports

The authors constructed a thin and flexible sheet of TENG-inspired system. The device can flatten itself when pressed and bounce back to its original form when the force is decreased. When pressure is applied, the flattening phase of the TENG allows electrons to transfer from one electrode to another. This pushes the device to generate an electrical current and stops when the pressure is released.

The TENGs were then tested by placing seven pieces of the device between the layers of the smart saddles. In this way, the authors recorded the variances in pressure throughout the seat.

Electrical signals become active if the rider is sitting upright, leaning back, or forward. In addition, normal standing and sitting above the surface of the saddles were also found to generate electricity. When a rider is displaced from a convenient position, the device will send wireless signals to alert a receiver, preventing damage and accidents during the game.

The response time record from the smart saddles is quick, scaling up to 16 milliseconds. The authors hope that the self-powered seats can contribute to equestrian sports in the future by collecting data and signal relay, keeping the games as safe as possible. The study was published in the journal ACS Nano, titled "Self-Rebound Cambered Triboelectric Nanogenerator Array for Self-Powered Sensing in Kinematic Analytics."

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