Magnetoelastic tent prototype harvests electricity from wind and movement

Researchers have built a prototype tent that converts mechanical motion into electricity using magnetoelastic materials, according to a study published July 31 in the journal Matter. The design integrates magnetoelastic ribbons into the tent floor and a layered roof structure with conductive fibers and magnetoelastic film. When the fabric bends, stretches or flexes from wind, occupant movement or setup handling, changes in magnetic flux density are converted to electrical energy through induction.

Magnetoelasticity, first described by physicist Emilio Villari in 1865, refers to the change in a material's magnetic flux density when mechanical stress is applied in an external magnetic field. The study demonstrates scaling this principle from small wearable devices to a larger fabric system. In laboratory tests, tapping a small sample of the magnetoelastic textile unit by hand charged a 0.22-microfarad capacitor to 5.8 volts within 1.5 seconds, a level comparable to a tiny timing or filter capacitor on a low-power sensor node.

The researchers envision the tent as a supplemental power source for LED lights, phone charging or small heaters in locations where electricity is limited, unreliable or unavailable. Unlike solar panels, the system does not require sunlight and can generate power after dark or in shaded conditions as long as the fabric continues to flex. The study explicitly states the technology is not intended for high-drain appliances such as microwaves or power tools.

Current limitations include unproven durability under repeated folding and weather exposure, unknown real-world energy output, and untested manufacturing affordability at scale. The authors note that future work must address these questions before the concept could move beyond a prototype. The research was framed as a response to the impracticalities of fuel-dependent generators, heavy batteries and sunlight-dependent solar panels in portable shelters.

The study, titled "Self-powered magnetoelastic tents for sustainable energy access in unhoused communities," was authored by Fan X, Tat T, Chen G and colleagues and appears in Matter (2026).