A Self-Powered Basketball Training Sensor Based on Triboelectric Nanogenerator

During the basketball training for beginner children, sensors are needed to count the number of times the basketball hits the target area in a certain period of time to evaluate the training effect. This study proposes a self-powered basketball training sensor, based on a triboelectric nanogenerator. The designed sensor with a rectangular floor shape will output a pulse signal with the same frequency as the basketball impact to achieve the measurement function through the mutual contact of the internal copper (Cu) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Test results show that the working frequency of the sensor is 0 to 5 Hz, the working environment temperature should be less than 75 °C, the working environment humidity should be less than 95%, and which has high reliability. Further tests show that the maximum output voltage, current, and power of the sensor can reach about 52 V, 4 uA, and 26.5 uW with a 10 MΩ resistance in series, respectively, and the output power can light up 12 light-emitting diode (LED) lights in real-time. Compared with the traditional statistical method of manual observation, the sensor can automatically count data in a self-powered manner, and also can light up the LED lights in real-time as an indicator of whether the basketball impacts the target area, to remind beginner children in real-time.