Estimation of Non-physiological Parameter for Electric Power Generation Using a Conventional Bicycle

Abstract

The need to find new alternative energy sources brings with it the use of unconventional power generation sources such as bicycles and the question arises as to how safe these sources are from the user’s perspective. The present work consists in the estimation of a parameter of easy evaluation, for the safe use of a conventional bicycle in the generation of electrical energy. The generation of energy is achieved by coupling a bicycle to an electric alternator and this to an inverter. The load used was a 100 W lamp. The measurement of non-physiological parameters such as vibration, ambient temperature and pedaling speed as well as certain physiological parameters such as heart rate (HR) and body temperature, were used to determine both physiological and electrical signals when the user is overexerting. A protocol oriented to two routines was defined to evaluate the use of the bicycle in conditions of maximum effort and conditions of safe operation. Eight people between the ages of 22 and 32, body weights from 56 kg to 80 kg and heights from 1.59 m to 1.84 m participated. Voltage and current readings were taken to estimate the power and energy generated by the participants. In the process of user-bike interaction it was found that when the participant over-exerted, he/she resorted to compensatory postural movements to maintain the pedaling speed. These compensatory movements made it possible to observe a relationship between the first derivative of vibration and HR.