Internet of Things for Architects

Piezo-mechanical harvesting

As mentioned earlier in this chapter, piezoelectric effects can be used as sensors, but they can also be used to generate power. Mechanical strains can be converted to energy through motion, vibration, and even sound. These harvesters could be used in smart roadways and infrastructures to harvest and change systems based on traffic movement, even when embedded in concrete. These devices produce currents on the order of milliwatts, and thus are suitable for very small systems with some form of energy collection and storage. This process can be performed using MEMS piezo-mechanical devices, electrostatic, and electromagnetic systems.

Electrostatic harvesting incorporates Faraday's law, which basically states that ...