These 5 IoT Energy-Harvesting Options Stand Out “in the Field” | Electronic Design
Thanks to advances in low power and energy efficiency, embedded systems and IoT devices no longer require access to ac current, meaning those platforms are suitable for remote applications. Wireless communication is becoming more prevalent in remote areas as well, opening the door to new operation possibilities like environmental sensor and telemetry applications, compiling weather data, and monitoring pipelines (among a host of others).
New energy-harvesting technologies coupled with energy-efficient battery storage and low-power platforms have pushed the boundaries of where embedded systems, IoT, and edge devices can be utilized. Whatever the application, all electronic devices require power of some sort, and energy harvesting is already allowing them to operate in a standalone manner, reducing managing costs and maintenance time in the field.
As it stands, a myriad of energy-harvesting devices can be paired with embedded systems and IoT devices capable of tapping into any number of resources—solar, thermal, wind, tide, kinetic, and many more. This roundup provides snapshots of some of the latest technologies that allow those devices to siphon energy from their surroundings for operation in remote areas.