The nightmare of your mobile phone running out of power mid-conversation could be over, for researchers at the University of Wisconsin have invented a device that, placed in a shoe, can harvest the kinetic energy from walking to power a mobile phone.

通话时遭遇手机突然没电的经历或许就要成为历史。因为美国威斯康星大学的研究人员研发了一种可以嵌入鞋子的装置，可从行走中获取动能从而为手机充电。

Scientists have been working for years on trying to harness the energy produced from walking, which theoretically is sufficient to power a light bulb, smart phone or even a laptop.

为了利用人们在走路过程中所产生的能量，科学家们已经探索了好多年。理论上讲，这种能量足以满足灯泡、智能手机甚至是一部笔记本电脑的工作需要。

But until now their solutions have been too cumbersome, or have not produced enough power to be useful.

但是直到现在，他们的方案都太过繁琐，或者难以产生足够的可以使用的能量。

Now, engineering experts Tom Krupenkin and Ashley Taylor say they have come up with a technology which can produce as much as a hefty 10 watts of power.

如今，工程专家汤姆•克鲁本勤和艾希莉•泰勒表示，他们已经研发了一项技术，可以产生高达10瓦的能量。

After testing various liquids, the researchers chose a metal alloy called Galinstan. Used in thermometers, it is similar to mercury but not poisonous.

在测试过不同的流体后，研究人员选择了一种名为Galinstan的合金。将其注射进温度计后，研究人员发现它与水银很相似，不过没有毒性。

Two small pouches, placed in the bottom of a shoe, are filled with the fluid and generate a current whenever they are compressed by the foot's up and down motion.

当他们将两个装有该流体的小袋子置于鞋内时，它们就会因人脚抬升和下落的动作而受到挤压，从而产生电流。

Transferring the energy from a device in a foot to a phone in the hand presents an obvious hurdle.

而如何将装置内的能量从脚部传输给手上的手机明显就成了难题。

Rather than plugging a cable into a shoe, the Wisconsin researchers suggest installing a wireless transmitter in the heel. This could make radio contact with mobile phone base stations.

威斯康星的研究人员用安装在脚后跟的无线发射机取代了需要塞进鞋子里的数据线。这样能量就可以与手机基站取得无线电联系。

Professor Krupenkin said: "Humans were 'very powerful energy-producing machines' that could produce as much as a kilowatt of power while sprinting."

克鲁本勤教授说：“人类是非常强大的‘能源生产器’，人在疾跑时可以产生上千瓦的电量。”