Electrical harvesting is the conversion of freely available ambient energy such as vibrations into electrical power. This power can then be used to supply low-power, autonomous electronic systems such as wireless sensor networks used in the energy, transport, aeronautical and military sectors.
Energy harvesters can be used to replace batteries in wireless devices reducing the maintenance costs of replacing the millions of batteries that are thrown away each year and enabling these wireless sensors to be placed in inaccessible and hazardous locations.
Research at Southampton is leading the way in developing devices that can turn these vibrations into useable energy in a cost-effective, user-friendly way.