Researchers at Northwestern University have presented a prototype of smart glasses called GlassTENG that operate without a battery. Three sensors on the frame convert the mechanical energy of blinks, jaw clenches, eyebrow raises and arterial pulses into electrical signals sufficient to power the sensors themselves.
The sensors are placed on the bridge of the nose, near the temple and by the ear. They use the principle of triboelectric nanogenerators: layers of materials come into contact and separate during facial movements, generating voltage. The pulse produces 50–100 mV, blinks and eyebrow raises — 200–500 mV, strong jaw movements — up to 1,5 V. The total consumption of the three sensors is only 4,1 µW.
In trials involving 20 volunteers, a machine learning algorithm recognized six types of activity with an accuracy of 93,8 %. Recognition of teeth tapping reached 99 %, and of jaw clenching — 96 %. The system distinguished these movements from talking and eating. Data is transmitted via Bluetooth to a smartphone or tablet.
GlassTENG is intended for continuous monitoring of the cardiovascular system, bruxism, fatigue and eating habits. Because the sensors are powered by the movements they measure, the glasses remain lightweight and require no charging for the basic operation of the sensors. The full system is not yet fully autonomous — Bluetooth communication may need additional power.
The prototype was presented at the ACM International Symposium on Wearable Computers 2026. The technology makes it possible to integrate health monitoring into ordinary glasses, which are already worn by about half of the world's population, without changing the user's habits.
