VOLTAGE-PRODUCING SHOES THAT UTILIZES

PIEZOELECTRICITY

John Lester L. Culibra

INTRODUCTION

The world is blessed by the abundance of energy. One of those is electrical energy,

the most used form, and is one of the greatest achievement of science and now part of the

everyday necessities of people living in this technologically advanced world. Ever since its

discovery there already were dozens of ways invented to gather and produce electricity.

One of those is the alternative energy production which includes various types and

processes, such as the Piezoelectric effect or most commonly known as Piezoelectricity.

Piezoelectric Effect is the ability of certain materials to generate an electric charge in

response to applied mechanical stress. This way of energy production can be capitalized

and can be applied to innovate commonly used objects that share the same principle of

applying mechanical stress, one of which is a pair of shoes.

Although electricity seems to be flawless at first glance, it has its own loopholes. A

great example would be its availability on financially deprived areas in different countries,

such as the Philippines which has a registered 21.0% of its population living in poverty

(Philippine Statistics Authority, 2019) and is hardly experiencing the convenience of

electricity. Due to this highly relevant problem, the researcher decided to conduct an

experimental research study that will not only bring innovation but will also aim to greatly

affect the problem of people not having the opportunity to experience electricity due to

their lack of finance.

Statement of the Problem

This study primarily dealt with the problem of financially deprived people not

having the opportunity of experiencing the service of electricity as its long term goal. As

per the study’s main goal is to deal with the problems that occurred in the production of the

piezoelectric shoe.

This study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the average voltage produced by the piezoelectric shoe?

2. How durable is the shoe as per:

a. maximum weight limit;

b. thermal resistance;

c. water resistance?

3. Is there a significant difference between the average voltage produced by the

piezoelectric shoe and its commercial alternatives which also utilizes the

piezoelectric effect?

4. Is there a significant difference between the durability of the piezoelectric shoe and

its commercial alternatives which also utilizes the piezoelectric effect?

Objectives of the Study

Generally, this study aims to produce an innovative shoe design that utilizes

Piezoelectricity to produce its own energy in the form of voltage.

Furthermore, this study also aims to:

1. prove the efficiency of energy production of the piezoelectric shoe by getting its

average voltage production;

2. know the durability of the shoe as per:

 a. its maximum weight limit;

b. thermal resistance;

c. water resistance;

3. compare and differentiate the efficiency and energy produced by the piezoelectric

shoe to its commercial alternatives;

4. compare and differentiate the durability of the piezoelectric shoe to its commercial

alternativs.

Significance of the Study

This study focused on bringing forth the possibility of redesigning a pair of shoes

to be beneficial mainly for the industry of alternative energy production. Although the

whole study has its main goal to be beneficial for the industry of alternative energy

production, the results will be deemed beneficial also for the following:

Students. After gathering the results and proving that it is efficient to innovate and

redesign a pair of shoes to utilize piezoelectricity, this technology can be applied to school

shoes. For the students who are on a tight budget or are living near their schools. It will be

highly beneficial for them as they walk their paths to school while simultaneously gathering

up low-level electricity to charge their gadgets.

Workers. For the everyday workers of our country, the piezoelectric shoe will be

highly beneficial for them. As a complement for their uniforms that they walk on every

day, the durability of the shoe would fit their overall outfit. Not only this but they can also

charge up their gadgets or even save up their energy gathered for later use.
 Local Shoe Manufacturers. Abide from being fashionable, shoe small shoe

manufacturers can now be given the chance to apply this technology to their shoes and be

profitable in the near future.

Future Researchers. The concepts that can be acquired in this research study will

be beneficial for future researchers who can use this as a material for their reference. They

can also commit on improving this kind of technology so that in will be flawless in the

future.

Scope and Delimitation

This study encloses the concept of finding the significant difference of an

innovatively designed piezoelectric shoe and its commercial alternatives in terms of their

voltage production. It also includes their differences terms of durability wherein their

maximum weight limit, thermal resistance, and water resistance will be measured. This

study will be conducted in the City of Dasmariñas, province of Cavite at the time bound of

year 2019 to 2020.