The work discussed is developing a self-sustainable low-power remote multi-sensing and data logging system for traffic sensing. The system is powered by the energy harvested using a stacked PZT (Lead zirconate titanate) transducer from the mechanical vibration from the vehicles passing over roads. The system is capable of multi-sensing functionality, logging the sensor data, and wirelessly transferring sensory data to an end-user device. Various power management techniques and engineering applications were made to achieve low power operation of the system while maintaining the full functionality and the accuracy of the sensor data. The energy harvester used is a custom-designed and fabricated stacked piezoelectric transducer optimized for maximum energy harvesting from the mechanical vibration from roadway traffic. A custom-built AC to DC converter is used to convert the harvested energy into useable electrical power. The system was tested under various experimental setups yielding satisfactory data accuracy while operating at low power. The system also successfully transferred sensor data remotely. All these features make the system self-sustainable and suitable for remote sensing applications without a conventional power source.

Piezoelectric energy harvesting in roadways can power distributed sensors and electronics by capturing underutilized mechanical energy from traffic. In this research, 1-3 stacked piezocomposites were developed and evaluated to determine optimal designs for multiple applications. The design of these transducers aimed at operating in a multitude of scenarios, under compressive loads (1–10 kN) at low-frequency (10 Hz) applications, intended to simulate vehicular forces. Power comparison was utilized between numerous transducers to determine the most efficient configuration for electromechanical energy conversion. Design guidelines were based on mechanical integrity, output power, active piezoelectric volume percentage, aspect ratio, and geometric factors. The forces applied in this study were reliant on the average vehicle weight. An intermediate PZT volume fraction and moderate pillar aspect ratios were found to yield the highest power output, with the stacked 1-3 composite significantly outperforming a monolithic PZT of a similar size.