Scientists are developing a magnetoelastic tent that makes its own
electricity like a wind turbine but dont expect to be able to take one to Glastonbury next year

Date:
Thu, 13 Aug 2026 15:25:58 +0000

Description:
Researchers are developing a tent for off-grid camps that could generate its own electricity.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Researchers are developing a tent that could produce its own electricity It's made out of magnetoelastic material It's still in early stages, but scientists intent to use them in off-grid camps and disaster zones There are plenty of high-tech camping accessories you can get your hands on to spruce up your outdoor vacations
but have you ever thought about a tent that can produce its own electricity? Well, it could be the future of camping.

Researchers have been developing a magnetoelastic tent that could generate
and harvest its own electricity, kind of like a wind turbine, but one that
you sleep in and use to power small devices. I thought Ive seen my fair share of whacky tech, but this discovery is truly something else. The tent is made out of a special material with magnetoelasticity, a textile property that can produce electrical energy from bending and stretching motions, which was
first coined by physicist Emilio Villari in 1865. But it relies on fabric layering to harness its electrical production powers. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here:

As mentioned in the Cell Press journal, Matter , the tents design consists of a magnetomechanical coupling layer and a magnetic induction layer. This is fused together with weaving patterns, layer stacking, and conductive fiber, allowing the tent to respond to movement.

The tent consists of two different components, one for the flooring and another for the roof. While the tent floor integrates woven fabric embedded with magnetoelastic ribbons, its roof features a layered material made of conductive fibers and magnetoelastic film. You may like I've been hunting for the perfect festival blackout tent here my 9 top recommendations I used to
be an outdoors editor here's my dream glamping setup Go anywhere, do anything: Jackery's got the power for every kind of adventure (Image credit: Cell Press / Matter) The interesting part is that the material can respond to more than just human movement happening inside the tent it can absorb action from environmental surroundings, too. Even motions such as wind and movement during the setup can also help but how?

Essentially, the materials fabric state shifts when it bends and flexes, converting mechanical movement into electricity through induction. During the testing period, researchers found that hand-tapping a small sample of the material could charge a 0.22-F capacitor to 5.80V in 1.5 seconds. While this is nowhere near enough to power a smartphone, for example, it shows that the material certainly has potential. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Despite the successful early-stage experiments, theres still a long way to go before it becomes a fully realized product, but the researchers behind it
have a vision.

For them, the tent isnt intended for leisurely camping trips. Instead, they see it as the ideal opportunity to provide sanctuary in shelters, disaster zones, off-grid camps, and areas where electricity access is limited or
relies solely on sunlight.

Thats one of the clever elements of the tent: it doesnt need the sun to power itself as solar panels do. Motion alone is enough to give the tent the power it needs to create its own source of energy, meaning that it can function in the shade and after sunset.

On paper its a genius product, but there are many tests that are yet to come so dont expect to score one in time for Glastonbury 2027. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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