Is energy harvesting a future for battery-free wireless sensor networks?

Interest in battery-free systems using capacitors and supercapacitors is growing, especially using piezoelectric technology. Energy harvesting has emerged as a promising avenue for addressing the constraints imposed by battery lifespan in wireless sensor networks (WSNs), paving the way for more sustainable and autonomous operations.

What is energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks?

Energy harvesting addresses the challenge of limited battery life in Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). This work systematically reviews peer-reviewed papers on the latest energy harvesting methods and mechanisms for WSNs. The review categorizes transducers, sources, and energy types to improve classification precision and understanding.

What technologies can be used to power a wireless sensor node?

The text provides a comprehensive assessment of diverse technologies, techniques, and mechanisms for extracting energy from environmental sources, including thermal, light, mechanical, radio frequency, chemical, and biological, to power a wireless sensor node device.

What is a wireless sensor network (WSN)?

1. Introduction Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) have emerged as a transformative technology with diverse applications ranging from environmental monitoring to industrial automation . The sustained operation of WSNs, however, hinges on the efficacy of their power sources.

Are battery-free systems viable?

The viability of battery-free systems is typically constrained by the availability of consistent and relatively high energy levels during events, coupled with the low energy consumption of the motes or the provision of sustainable energy storage for multiple inactive harvesting cycles.

Why are mobile network operators expanding infrastructure in remote areas?

As the telecom and wireless industry grows, mobile network operators, tower companies, and wireless internet service providers are expanding infrastructure in remote areas with unreliable grid power or no grid power at all.