(Yicai Global) July 22 -- Chinese researchers have developed a type of a knee brace that can turn motion into electricity, possibly to be used to recharge fitness trackers. 

The Department of Mechanical and Automation Engineering of the Chinese University of Hong Kong designed a wearable device that can generate 1.6 microwatts of power during a walk of four kilometers, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing scientific journal Applied Physics Letters. 

The machine may enable wearable health monitors to be self-powered, the report added. The equipment weighs a bit more than 300 grams and requires no major increase of effort from its wearer, according to the same study. 

Editor: Emmi Laine