Dikshya Das and Subhranshu Banerjee from ODM Public school with an innovative pair of energy producing shoes. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10: Just walk a kilometre and get your smart phones and laptops charged.

Two students — Subhranshu Banerjee and Dikshya Das, who study in class VIII and IX of ODM Public School — have come up with an innovative pair of energy-producing shoes that can help charge mobile phones and laptops.

The students used a “Piezo cell” (a special kind of cell) inside the sole of these shoes to produce electricity. The electricity is then stored in the battery that can be used for charging up laptops and mobiles. A walk of one kilometre would be enough to fully charge the batteries, the duo said.

The project title was displayed at the 101st National Science Congress, which concluded in Jammu on February 7 and was selected as one of the top projects.

“The happiest part was to be appreciated by eminent scientists and also former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,” said Subhranshu. “More walking will produce proportionate electricity while providing physical exercise simultaneously,” said Dikshya.

Explaining the advantages, Dikshya said the shoes could be best used during natural disasters. In the absence of traditional method of mobile phone charging, rural people can also benefit out of this device. Produced commercially, it will cost not more than Rs 100, said the students, who had worked for over six months to come up with the design. “We got a lot of curious businessmen interested to take our idea at the science congress, but we were not ready. We first wish to improve the design and make it better,” said Subhranshu.

S. Minaketan, principal of ODM Public School, said the school would take help of experts to improvise the product. “But first of all, we will try to patent it,” said Minaketan.

The project was also displayed at the 21st state-level Children’s Science Congress, a programme organised by the department of science and technology. The project was adjudged the best entry at the event.

“These shoes, if marketed commercially, will not only solve the energy woes, but also improve the health of people,” said eminent physician R.N. Ray.