CES 2019: SmartWatch Can Recharge from the Sun or Body Heat

At CES this week, Matrix Industries is showing off a smartwatch that never needs to be plugged in. The second-gen PowerWatch 2 can charge itself via the sun or body heat.

Every Matrix PowerWatch includes a thermoelectric generator that harvests energy from body heat – most effective when you’re active and the ambient temperature is below 80°F (26°C). The PowerWatch 2 adds solar capabilities, and even in cold, dark conditions, the battery lasts up to a year.

We just had Maxim aboard the PSDcast to discuss wrist-based wearables and their vital importance to the future of healthcare. Most folks abhor clunky, chest-based heart-rate monitors. But if you combine a viable form-factor with a self-powered battery, you could revolutionize the concept of preventative care.

Obviously, the PowerWatch 2 is aimed at consumers (hence the ‘C’ in CES), but the medical applications are self-evident.

According to the company, the watch’s thermoelectric generator (TEG) needs “to have a hot side and a cold side to operate. The hot side is the circular black aluminum plate on the back of the watch. The cold side is the entire metal bezel and body of the watch. The hot and cold sides are separated from each other by a layer of insulating thermoplastic. The TEGs harvest the heat flowing from the hot side to the cold side....”

This chart from Matrix Industries illustrates how quickly the PowerWatch charges based on different air temperatures and body positions:

The watch needs to fit snugly on the inside or outside of your wrist (the inside works best), and an arc of display bars around the outside of the watch face indicates how much power is being harvested from your body. The device includes standard fitness modes like a sleep counter, step counter, and calorie counter, and the watch can store data from all your runs.

You can read more about the PowerWatch 2 here: https://venturebeat.com/2019/01/06/matrix-industriess-powerwatch-2-uses-body-heat-and-solar-to-charge-itself/