Energy saving staircase

When someone mentions energy saving equipment, what comes to your mind? It is without a doubt to say that most people will think of an equipment that utilises Electrical energy efficiently, takes less amount of gas to heat the water or a renewable energy source. How about you as a user using less energy to move around or take care of business with less energy? Well, Researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University have developed a staircase that could assist people to walk up and down more effectively. However, this is still a temporary solution for those patients with walking difficulties

A Very Beautiful Stairway

The stairway simply works by storing the energy used during descent and dissipate back to the user during ascent. It is loaded with springs which compress when someone comes down saving the energy which is, in normal cases, dissipated by impact and braking by ankles. On climbing up, the staircase releases the stored energy giving the user a boost making it easier by over 37% compared to climbing the conventional staircases.

The stairs are tethered by springs and equipped with pressure sensors such that when you step on them they sink slowly untill they are on the same level with lower staircases storing the energy you generate by that action staying that way untill someone walks up the stairway. On ascent, the latch on lower staircase releases releasing the stored energy which then lifts the back leg

For more information and a video on the same visit Georgia Tech website.