IIT Indore has created advanced shoes using a special technology called Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG). These shoes are designed to improve safety and efficiency for armed forces personnel but could also be useful in many other areas.TENG technology stands for Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator. It works by converting the movement of your steps into electrical energy. Here’s how it works:

1. Movement to Energy: As you walk, the movement creates friction between two special materials in the shoe.
2. Energy Collection: This friction generates a small electric charge. The shoe collects and stores this energy.
3. Powering Devices: The stored energy can be used to power small gadgets.
4. GPS Tracking: The shoes also have built-in GPS, which tracks your location in real time. This helps in staying aware of where you are and coordinating better with others.

Safety and Efficiency in Military Operations

For Military Personnel:

• Enhanced Safety: The real-time location data helps soldiers stay connected and aware of their surroundings, improving safety and coordination.

Other Uses:

• Sports: The shoes can track athletes’ movements.
• Health Monitoring: Useful for tracking elderly people, children, and even for attendance in factories.

Delivery to DRDO

• Testing: The first 10 pairs of these advanced shoes have been sent to the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) for testing.
• Project Leaders: Professor Suhas Joshi from IIT Indore is leading the project, with support from Professor I A Palani.

About Tribo-Electric Nanogenerator (TENG)

TENGs use the triboelectric effect to generate electricity. Here’s how:

1. Two Materials: TENGs have two different materials that create an electric charge when they touch and then separate.
2. Energy Collection: They capture energy from everyday actions like walking or vibrations.
3. Materials: They can be made from materials like plastics or metals, making them versatile and lightweight.
4. Applications: Useful for powering sensors in remote areas and in the Internet of Things (IoT). TENGs are efficient, converting more than 60% of mechanical energy into electrical energy, making them a great sustainable energy source.