Generating Electric Current by Walking

Piezoelectric sidewalks. They would have to be really robust piezoelectric sensors.

Well yes, The action of walking could used to generate a current.

The question you should be asking is how to measure it and then how to collect and store it for later use?

I could think of about five mechanical devices you could use. Maybe a little gen in the sole of the heal of your shoe with some wires, regulator and battery pack. With some thinking through It would be easy enough put something together.

Mind you the current you generate may never be enough to cover the cost of the device.

Yeah, it boils down to that in many cases.....as engg students we used to get many ideas reg. generation, saving, utilization etc.....even if they were viable for our tech fests, the real prob was taking them forward.....I noticed it more so during working.....

We had this idea of using thus generated energy from walking/running for locomotion in corridors which can be controlled by our toe(very crazy idea! :D)

Ever seen those chinese shoes for toddlers with bulbs lighting up when they walk?

The idea is to store it on shoes do not mat the corridor with the piezoes. After a long days walk, at leas a few watt-hours can be saved and may be use re-chargeable cells to store.

The combination of nylon carpets, insulating shoes and low atmospheric humidity is a classic for generating static electricity.

I built a multipoint Kynar piezoelectric shoe insert for a bioengineering grad student to do research on pressure points on soles of feet. The research was directed toward designing a better insole, which has been done. e.g. Dr. Scholl's and gel inserts.