ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses energy harvesting as a local power source, the ability to estimate environmental power availability and to assess the viability of applications based on size, environmental conditions, power demand and operation schedule specifications. Electrostatic harvesters transduce motion energy into electricity through the work done by the electrostatic force during the displacement of a capacitor's plate. Inductive energy harvesting can be used in environments with steady relative motion between two neighbouring shafts. Thermoelectric generators transducer heat to electrical energy by the Seebeck effect. Analytical and numerical models can accurately predict the performance and assist design optimization of dynamic thermal harvesters. Dynamic thermoelectric harvesters can satisfy the power requirements of duty cycled aircraft strain wireless sensors.
