This Device Uses Breathing Patterns to Control Smart Home Systems

Engineers at Case Western Reserve University have developed a wearable that can control smart home systems by adjusting breathing patterns. The unit, which is self-powered and fits into the wearer’s nostrils, could enhance the quality of life for the disabled, elderly, those with limited mobility, and those with difficulty speaking. What’s more, users can program it to send automatic alerts to medical professionals if they experience trouble breathing.

“We believe that having both of these capabilities – smart technology control and medical alert – in a small device makes this special,” explains Changyong Cao, assistant professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering. The engineers designed the unit using a technology known as triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs), or triboelectrification, which converts mechanical energy harvested from the environment into electricity that can power small devices and sensors.

The technology, which has been developed over the last decade, enables researchers to transform routine mechanical energy into valuable electric power. Rain, wind, or even simple body movements, such as clapping hands, walking and breathing, all contain that energy. Due to its simple design and operation, the device, known as the breathing-driven human-machine interface (HMI) system, could become available to the general public within three to five years.