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Power Harvesting (Energy Scavenging) Systems
The field of renewable energy systems has been growing for quite some time now due to various driving concerns, ranging from natural resource depletion to longer lasting wireless systems, etc. The focus of this work is to characterize and produce renewable energy storage devices that recharge based on converting energy from the local environment. Examples within this broad definition can range from solar cells, to RF receivers, to thermoelectric devices, to vibration-induced generators. When evaluating each of these devices for the purpose of creating an energy source for hybrid insect electronics, the motion of the flight is considered as a large source of energy to be investigated with the vibration-induced generators. While the other types of power harvesting devices do have their merits, the vibration-induced generators will operate when the hybrid insect is in flight, allowing sensors, actuators, and communication systems to be active for achieving the program’s primary objective.
A couple specifics on the vibration-induced generators are the following, piezoelectric, electromagnetic, and electrostatic devices are among the best options as transduction devices and each of these systems can be made relatively small, sub-one gram, to be carried by such hybrid insects as “payloads.” Within the Garcia Group, primary research interests have been in the design of these devices for the specific tuning of power density (Watts/kg). Also, energy management circuitry to efficiently condition these AC signals to storable energy is being developed.
To be published:
- Reissman, T., Park, J.S., and Garcia, E. "Micro-solenoid Electromagnetic Power Harvesting for Vibrating Systems", Smart Structures and Materials 2008: Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, San Diego, CA., 2008.
- Reissman, T., MacCurdy, R.B., and Garcia, E."Energy Management of Multi-component Power Harvesting Systems", Smart Structures and Materials 2008: Active and Passive Smart Structures and Integrated Systems, San Diego, CA., 2008.
Figure 1: Micro-solenoid Electromagnetic Power Harvesters
Figure 2: Piezoelectric Power Harvester Vibration Testing