Browse Topic: Energy harvesting

Items (102)

With the ever increasing demand for aerial modes of transportation and reduction of different harmful emissions from these modes of transportation has led to demand for more electric modes of powering these aerial vehicles. In addition to that, the aerospace industry is also looking to make the aircrafts more smart and more connected. This involves increased use of more sensors, ICs and many more micro-electronic components. Even though they look small and consume less electricity, the electric battery which is supposed to be used for aircraft propulsion will require to power up these smaller components as well, which will continue to be a concern as the aircrafts begin using more and more of these components. Hence, a solution is needed to reduce the dependency of micro-electronic components or any other aircraft components used within the aircraft on the electric battery to be used for aircraft propulsion. The concept of Energy Harvesting or Energy Scavenging refers to the capturing

Bajpai, Apoorva

testprint9

SAE-PP-0100304/27/2022

testprint9

Mutagaana, Festo

preprint2

SAE-PP-0099604/27/2022

preprint2

Mutagaana, Festo

Studies on the dynamic characteristics of vibration energy recovery system

2022-01-033703/29/2022

The vehicle suspension plays a significant role in alleviating the vibrations translated from the rough road and most of the vibrations are dissipated by the hydraulic shock absorber. Vibration energy harvesting technology is widely concerned for the self-powered wireless sensor system in intelligent vehicle. However, the system dynamic characteristics changes due to the coupling between the vibration and electro-magnetic induction. Mechanical electromagnetic coupling is investigated in this paper, a quarter vehicle vibration energy recovery model including electromagnetic system is established. And this paper focuses on the dynamic stiffness and normalized damping, which are often ignored by researchers. A harmonic excitation is applied to the vehicle suspension, and the dynamic stiffness and damping in time domain is studied by changing the frequency of harmonic excitation. And the time-domain response function of vehicle vibration acceleration under harmonic excitation and square

Zhu, Hengjia, Liu, Yunhao, Tian, Siyuan, Yun, Shen, Zhang, Wei

automobile's nviehf

SAE-PP-0047610/06/2021

Current automobile's auto-transmission has problems of defects and cost reduction because of welding process and very complicated assembly process due to individualized transmission piston and sealing components. Also, size and heavy weight of transmission piston components are the source of low mileage because they are made of aluminum, steel materia

Mutagaana, Festo

Centimeter-Long Snail Robot Powered with Light

TBMG-3980309/01/2021

Crawling by traveling deformation of a soft body is a widespread mode of locomotion — from microscopic nematodes, to earthworms, to gastropods. Animals across scales use it to move around different, often challenging environments. Snails, in particular, use mucus — a slippery, aqueous secretion — to control the interaction between their ventral foot and the surface. Their adhesive locomotion has a unique property: it can be used on different surfaces including wood, metal, glass, Teflon (PTFE), or sand in various configurations such as crawling upside-down.

Stretchable Thermoelectric Generators

TBMG-3959908/01/2021

A soft and stretchable organic thermoelectric module has been created that can harvest energy from body heat. The breakthrough was enabled by a new composite material that may have widespread use in smart clothing, wearable electronics, and electronic skin.

Reduced Heat Leakage Improves Wearable Health Device

TBMG-3961708/01/2021

Researchers have enhanced a flexible body heat harvester by preventing heat leakage. The harvesters use heat energy from the human body to power wearable technologies. The technology relies on the same principles governing rigid thermoelectric harvesters that convert heat to electrical energy.

Testing-legacypublishing

SAE-PP-0037606/22/2021

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SintzUSER, Jeneane

Innovative IoT Sensor Applications Pave the Way to the Future

TBMG-3924406/01/2021

If you tell people that exterminators use temperature sensors to eliminate bedbugs, it prompts questions, and people want to know more. You can get the same reaction when you mention that landfill, entomology labs, and banana-ripening managers use sensor data to automate and optimize their operations.

6.0.120 - Investigation of the Applicability of Numerical Noise Prediction of an Axial Vehicle Cooling Fan

SAE-PP-0027502/04/2021

This paper focuses on the applicability of numerical prediction of sound radiation caused by an axial vehicle cooling fan. To investigate the applicability of numerical methods, a hybrid approach is chosen where first a CFD simulation is performed and the sound radiation is calculated in a second step. For the acoustic simulation an integral method described by Ffowcs-Williams-Hawkings is used to predict the sound propagation in the far-field. The simulation results are validated with experiments. The corresponding setup in experiments and simulation represents an overall system which includes the cooler, the cooling fan and a combustion engine dummy. To optimize the economical applicability in terms of simulation setup and run time, different approaches are investigated. This includes the simulation of only one blade using a periodic boundary condition as compared to the whole fan geometry. In the CFD simulation an SAS-turbulence-model is applied. The results show that this is a very

Mutagaana, Festo

Stretchable Micro-Supercapacitors to Self-Power Wearable Devices

TBMG-3854802/01/2021

A stretchable system that can harvest energy from human breathing and motion for use in wearable health-monitoring devices may be possible, according to an international team of researchers, led by Huanyu “Larry” Cheng, the Dorothy Quiggle Career Development Professor in Penn State’s department of engineering science and mechanics. The research team, with members from Penn State and Minjiang University and Nanjing University, both in China, recently published its results in Nano Energy.

Circuit Generates Clean, Limitless Power from Graphene

TBMG-3833001/01/2021

An energy-harvesting circuit based on graphene could be incorporated into a chip to provide clean, limitless, low-voltage power for small devices or sensors. The findings show that freestanding graphene — a single layer of carbon atoms — ripples and buckles in a way that holds promise for energy harvesting.

Products of Tomorrow: January 2021

TBMG-3834401/01/2021

This column presents technologies that have applications in commercial areas, possibly creating the products of tomorrow. To learn more about each technology, see the contact information provided for that innovation.

Side-Mounted Solar Modules Enhance Energy Sustainability

TBMG-3832901/01/2021

If builders could incorporate solar harvesting into the siding of a building, the amount of energy from the grid that a structure would need may significantly decrease. Researchers have demonstrated the potential of wedge-shaped luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) that can easily be hung on the side of a building.

5 Ws of the Paper-Based Keypad

TBMG-3796611/01/2020

Users can take paper sheets from a notebook and turn them into a music player interface or make food packaging interactive.

Smart, Self-Powered Knee Implants

TBMG-3796711/01/2020

Knee replacement surgery is the most common joint replacement procedure, with the number of surgeries increasing every year. This surgery is being performed for younger, more active patients who are faced with a dilemma: When they undergo the surgery, they are expected to remain physically active for their overall health but that activity can also wear down the new implant. Often, doctors don’t know if patients are overexerting themselves until they begin to develop symptoms. By that point, the damage to the implant has already been done. For a young patient, going through knee replacement surgery every five or 10 years is a daunting task but finding the perfect balance of activity levels to maintain the integrity of the implant has been equally daunting.

Self-Powered Alarm Fights Forest Fires, Monitors Environment

TBMG-3766409/01/2020

In a new study, a team of Michigan State University scientists designed and fabricated a remote forest fire detection and alarm system powered by nothing but the movement of the trees in the wind. The device, known as MC-TENG — short for multilayered cylindrical triboelectric nanogenerator — generates electrical power by harvesting energy from the sporadic movement of the tree branches from which it hangs.

Wiegand Wire: Energy Harvesting and More

TBMG-3738708/01/2020

The “Wiegand effect” was discovered more than 40 years ago and while it has been used successfully in several specialized applications, its full potential for energy harvesting and signal generation has received only limited recognition. With enhancements to the energy output from Wiegand devices and the emergence of a new generation of ultra-efficient electronic chips, the technology is showing significant promise, especially in the exciting area of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).

Wearable Strain Sensor Using Light Transmittance

TBMG-3744508/01/2020

Researchers have developed a wearable strain sensor based on the modulation of optical transmittance of a carbon nanotube (CNT)-embedded elastomer. The sensor is capable of sensitive, stable, and continuous measurement of physical signals.

Fabric Allows Wearers to Control Electronic Devices Through Clothing

TBMG-3704506/01/2020

A new technique transforms existing cloth items or textiles into self-powered e-textiles containing sensors, music players, or illumination displays using simple embroidery without the need for expensive fabrication processes requiring complex steps or expensive equipment. The fabric also keeps the wearer safe from viruses and bacteria.

Wearable Device Monitors Health

TBMG-3703606/01/2020

Engineers have demonstrated a flexible device that harvests the heat energy from the human body to monitor health. The device surpasses other flexible harvesters that use body heat as the sole energy source.

Leaf-Inspired Surface Prevents Frost Formation

TBMG-3685805/01/2020

Researchers have discovered a new way to significantly reduce frost formation on any surface. The finding could help decrease the amount of energy needed for defrosting and could potentially result in fewer canceled flights, which can be grounded by even the slightest layer of frost.

A Multi-Resonant Speed Piezoelectric Beam Device for Harvesting Energy from Vehicle Wheels

2020-01-123604/14/2020

This work analyzes a cantilevered piezoelectric beam device for harvesting energy from the simultaneous rotation and translational vibration of vehicle wheels. The device attaches to the wheel rim so that it displaces tangentially during operation. A lumped-parameter analytical model for the coupled electromechanical system is derived. The device has one natural frequency that is speed-dependent because of centripetal acceleration affecting the total stiffness of the device. Even though the device has one natural frequency, it experiences three resonances as the rotation speed varies. One resonance occurs when the rotation speed coincides with the speed-dependent natural frequency of the device. The other two resonances are associated with excitations from the vibration of the vehicle wheel. The device’s parameters are chosen so that these three resonances occur when the wheel travels near 30 mph, 55 mph, and 70 mph. There are two excitation frequencies that give these resonant speeds

Cooley, Christopher

Deformation Sensing in Soft Bio-Surrogate Materials

TBMG-3660904/01/2020

Deformation sensing in and on soft materials has garnered increased interest with the advancement of emerging technologies such as soft robotics, wearable computing, and biomedical applications. These applications have a need for quantification of stretching-contraction deformations along a single-axis as well as multi-directional deformation quantifications (i.e. bending, pressure, membrane stretch, planar and torsional shear).

Device Harvests Energy from Low-Frequency Vibrations

TBMG-3638304/01/2020

Energy harvesting devices are in high demand to power the millions of devices that make up the Internet of Things. By providing continuous power to a rechargeable battery or supercapacitor, energy harvesters can reduce the labor cost of changing out batteries when they fail and keep dead batteries out of landfills.

Bio-Inspired Mechanics to Make Robots More Effective

TBMG-3619103/01/2020

In an effort to make robots more effective and versatile teammates for soldiers in combat, researchers are looking to understand the value of the molecular living functionality of muscle and the fundamental mechanics that would need to be replicated in order to artificially achieve the capabilities arising from the proteins responsible for muscle contraction.

High-Performance, Piezoelectric, Hybrid Synthetic Jet Actuators

TBMG-3618103/01/2020

NASA Langley Research Center has invented three serial high-performance, piezoelectric, hybrid synthetic jet actuators to provide active flow control for current and future wing-borne vehicles in subsonic, transonic, and supersonic flow. Effective active flow control results in reduced vehicle drag and the prevention of events that can lead to catastrophic loss.

Calculating Electrical Requirements for Direct Current Electric Actuators

TBMG-3606202/01/2020

Servo control systems require accurate control of motion parameters such as acceleration, velocity, and position. This requires a controller that can apply current (torque) to accelerate a motor in a given direction, as well as provide an opposing current to decelerate it. When this application of aiding and opposing torque can be carried out in both directions, it is referred to as four quadrant motor control (Figure 1).

Energy Harvesting for Soft-Matter Machines and Electronics

TBMG-3605902/01/2020

Air Force (AF) materials capable of dramatic changes in shape and rigidity require soft-matter electronics that support functionality without interfering with the mechanics of the host structure. This program introduced a new class of soft, multifunctional materials that can be used to power these systems by converting elastic strain energy from large deformations into electricity. These materials are composed of soft elastomers embedded with a suspension of liquid metal (LM) droplets that control the electrical properties of the composite.

Energy Harvesting for Soft-Matter Machines and Electronics

20AERP02_1202/01/2020

A new class of soft multifunctional materials could be used to convert mechanical deformation from vibrations and stretching into electrical energy. Air Force Research Laboratory, Arlington, Virginia Air Force (AF) materials capable of dramatic changes in shape and rigidity require soft-matter electronics that support functionality without interfering with the mechanics of the host structure. This program introduced a new class of soft, multifunctional materials that can be used to power these systems by converting elastic strain energy from large deformations into electricity. These materials are composed of soft elastomers embedded with a suspension of liquid metal (LM) droplets that control the electrical properties of the composite. Depending on their composition and microstructure, these LM-embedded elastomers (LMEEs) can be tailored to exhibit exceptionally high electric conductivity, electric permittivity, and/or thermal conductivity. LMEEs with high permittivity can function as

Aerospace & Defense Technology: February 2020

20AERP0201/30/2020

Rad-Hard Microelectronics for Space Applications Outsourcing Plasma Treatments for Surface Modification Adding Context to Full-Motion Video for Improved Surveillance and Situational Awareness Implementing an Aerospace Factory of the Future 90° Hybrid Coupled Power Amplifier - Pros and Cons A New Network Design for the "Internet from Space" Future Advances in Electronic Materials and Processes - Flexible Hybrid Electronics Despite progress being made, there are still significant obstacles to the manufacture and use of flexi-ble hybrid electronics in military applications. Heterogeneous Integration Technology Integrating different types of devices and materials could increase their functional density, improving the performance of electro-optic systems for sensor applications. The Impact of Cyber Cameras on the Intelligence Community The ability to covertly access and manipulate cyber cameras could provide valuable strategic data for the US intelligence community. Calculating Electrical

In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Methylotrophic Microorganisms Expressing Soluble Methane Monooxygenase Proteins

TBMG-3581201/01/2020

Long-duration missions to planetary bodies and deep space will require new technological developments that support human habitation in transit and on distant bodies. Microorganisms are unique from the standpoint that they can be employed as self-replicating bio-factories to produce both native and engineered mission-relevant bio-products. Methane (CH4) usage in In-Space Manufacturing (ISM) platforms has been discussed previously for human exploration and has been proposed to be used in physicochemical systems as a propulsion fuel, supply gas, and in fuel cells.

Ruthenium-Doped Thermoelectric Materials

TBMG-3580601/01/2020

Innovators at NASA's Glenn Research Center have developed a novel thermoelectric material that raises the bar for solid-state power conversion devices. There is growing momentum in the aerospace and automotive industries to harvest energy from heat (such as exhaust from combustion) but advances have been hampered by the lack of environmental durability and performance levels of thermoelectric materials currently in use. Glenn's breakthrough material is a ruthenium-doped gadolinium orthotantalate that excels at directly converting heat into energy. More importantly, this material does not break down at higher temperatures or air environments, even without special coatings or inert packaging. Glenn's material enables designers to make great strides in developing solid-state power conversion devices for applications in aerospace, automotive, and power-generation industries.

Wireless Sensor “Stickers” Track Physiological Signals

TBMG-3582301/01/2020

Engineers have developed a way to detect physiological signals emanating from the skin with sticky sensors that beam wireless readings to a receiver clipped onto clothing. To demonstrate the wearable technology, the researchers stuck sensors to the wrist and abdomen of a test subject to monitor the person's pulse and respiration by detecting how their skin stretched and contracted with each heartbeat or breath. Likewise, stickers on the person's elbows and knees tracked arm and leg motions by gauging the minute tightening or relaxation of the skin each time the corresponding muscle flexed.

Washable Sensor Can Be Woven Into Materials

TBMG-3572612/01/2019

A low-cost sensor was developed that can be interlaced into textiles and composite materials, paving the way for smart clothing that can monitor human movement. The embedded microscopic sensor is able to recognize local motion through the stretching of woven yarns treated with graphene nanoplatelets that can read the body's activity.

Device Creates Electricity from Snowfall

TBMG-3571212/01/2019

Researchers have designed a device that creates electricity from falling snow. The device is inexpensive, small, thin, and flexible like a sheet of plastic. It can work in remote areas because it provides its own power and does not need batteries. The device is also a weather station that can tell how much snow is falling, the direction the snow is falling, and the direction and speed of the wind.

Photovoltaic-Powered Sensors

TBMG-3571412/01/2019

Internet of Things devices require batteries that must be replaced frequently, which can be problematic for long-term monitoring. Photovoltaic-powered sensors were developed that could potentially transmit data for years before they need to be replaced. Thin-film perovskite cells — known for their potential low cost, flexibility, and relative ease of fabrication — were mounted as energy-harvesters on inexpensive radio frequency identification (RFID) tags.

Ultra-Thin Layers of Rust Generate Electricity from Flowing Water

TBMG-3572212/01/2019

Research shows that thin films of rust (iron oxide) can generate electricity when saltwater flows over them. These films represent an entirely new way of generating electricity and could be used to develop new forms of sustainable power production.

Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) Actuator

TBMG-3572412/01/2019

The Macro-Fiber Composite (MFC) actuator is a low-cost piezoelectric device designed for controlling vibration, noise, and deflections in composite structural beams and panels. It is an encapsulated, high-performance, in-plane, piezoelectric fiber composite strain device that consists of rectangular piezoelectric fibers sandwiched between layers of adhesive and electrode polyimide film.

2019 'Create the Future' Sustainable Technologies Category Winner: Wave-Powered Water Desalination

TBMG-3544911/01/2019

Motion-Powered, Fireproof Sensor

TBMG-3543111/01/2019

Researchers have created a motion-powered, fireproof sensor that can track the movements of firefighters, steelworkers, miners, and others who work in high-risk environments where they cannot always be seen. The sensor alerts someone outside if the movement ceases.

Battery-Free Sensor for Underwater Use

TBMG-3544311/01/2019

To investigate oceans, researchers aim to build a submerged network of interconnected sensors that sends data to the surface. Supplying constant power to scores of sensors designed to stay for long durations underwater has been a major problem.

Thin Nylon Films for Transparent Electronic Devices

TBMG-3525510/01/2019

Very thin nylon films were created that can be used in electronic memory components. The films are several hundreds of times thinner than a human hair and could be used in bendable electronic devices or for electronics in clothing.

Energy Harvesting for Smart Home Sensing

TBMG-3519909/01/2019

Many industries — whether electronics, consumer, or semiconductor — have a clear vision of the future of the connected smart home. While there are many use cases and some elements such as smart speakers and smart lighting that are already starting to take off, the full significance of a “smart home” may not be clear to the average consumer. The key to acceptance and adoption will be enhancing total ease of ownership — IoT elements need to be easy to install, use, understand, and maintain, all in an environmentally-sound way. One critical element in making these devices easy for homeowners to use is advanced sensor technology that draws little power or even harvests its own energy to run.

Shape-Shifting Origami Could Help Antenna Systems Adapt On-the-Fly

TBMG-3510709/01/2019

Conventional reconfigurable electrical and radio frequency (RF) structures commonly used in applications involving real-time reconfigurability in response to fast varying operational scenarios require specialized substrates or complex electrical circuits. Origami-based RF reconfigurable components and modules offer a solution with unique properties. First, they enable re-configurability over continuous-state ranges (as opposed to discrete states). Second, they do not require specialized mechanical support for multilayer frequency-selective surface structures. Moreover, deployable origami-based RF structures can achieve large surface re-configurability ratios from folded to unfolded states. Finally, these structures allow for independent control of multiple figures of merit: bandwidth, frequency of operation, and angle of incidence.

Shape-Shifting Origami Could Help Antenna Systems Adapt On-the-Fly

19AERP09_0509/01/2019

Conventional reconfigurable electrical and radio frequency (RF) structures commonly used in applications involving real-time reconfigurability in response to fast varying operational scenarios require specialized substrates or complex electrical circuits. Origami-based RF reconfigurable components and modules offer a solution with unique properties. First, they enable reconfigurability over continuous-state ranges (as opposed to discrete states). Second, they do not require specialized mechanical support for multilayer frequency-selective surface structures. Moreover, deployable origami-based RF structures can achieve large surface reconfigurability ratios from folded to unfolded states. Finally, these structures allow for independent control of multiple figures of merit: bandwidth, frequency of operation, and angle of incidence. The tremendous increase in the number of components in typical electrical and communication modules requires low-cost, flexible, and multifunctional sensing

Wearable Liquid Unit Harvests Energy

TBMG-3493308/01/2019

Researchers have created wearable technology to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. It presents a step toward the practical realization of self-powered, human-integrated technologies.

Sensors Expo Preview 2019

TBMG-3458406/01/2019

The 2019 Sensors Expo and Conference will be held at the McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, CA from June 25 – 27. Both the expo and conference are excellent opportunities to get a good sense of important sensor trends. Among the wide variety of themes at the conference, some strike me as being very significant for the current state of the industry.

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