|
 |
 |
|
Joseph plays in the school band. He also enjoys model rocketry and building all sorts of things. Someday he'd like to pursue a career in mechanical or electrical engineering because he enjoys "experimenting with engineering projects that no one else has tried."
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
After Joseph's father returned from a run one day, he suggested that Joseph design a shoe that could use the movement of a runner's foot to power the portable radio he carried while jogging. Joseph took the challenge and began sketching designs for a shoe that could charge an AA battery.
Joseph devised a shoe with two embedded generators that produced electricity by passing magnets over electric coils. He built a prototype using an old pair of running shoes. Joseph tested the shoes by wiring them to a battery and running set numbers of steps, then checking the battery's charge. He found that the new shoes weren't feasible for realistic use, taking about one hundred hours of running to charge a single AA battery. However, he discovered that his design did generate electricity, making it a practical model for future improvements.
|
|
|
