IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - June 2023 - 62

interfaces, limits the ability to manufacture energy harvesters
in high volume at low cost. This lack of universality
can be tackled in various ways. One possibility is to
increase the use of modularization. For example, vibration
harvesters could combine a use-specific motion
adaptation module with a standard mechanical-to-electrical
transduction module. Standard thermoelectric
modules could be combined with low-cost thermal conductors
for geometric transformation to adapt to source
characteristics to maximize efficiency. Such modular
approaches should be closely tied to standardization and
inter-operability efforts, as discussed below.
Development and Sustainability
In an integrated system, EH lies at the interface between a
wireless system and the environment. It can be considered
as part of an interactive package, along with sensing,
actuation, communication, mechanical support, and protection.
As such, energy harvesting devices can be developed
at system integration level, offering several
opportunities including 1) joint sensing and harvesting
from a common transducer, 2) combined harvesting and
harsh-environment protection, e.g. by mechanical shockdamping,
smoothing temperature transients [25], radiation,
and field shielding [15], 3) joined power and data
(Figure 9) reception [26], and 4) a complimentary multidimensional
design space in which energy harvesting can
support the power autonomy of portable systems.. Such
functional integration would be particularly valuable for
applications with stricter size or weight constraints.
The availability of modular building blocks currently
drives the use case development. As pointed out above, system
integrators do not want too many iterative steps in the
development of low level components. Therefore, system
design software, such
as web-based development
tools, could provide
a key medium for
communicating
prinFIG
8 Power management architecture of a typical energy harvesting power supply [2].
ciples and performance
of EH to the end users
in a comprehensive
manner, including during
early development
stages. Such software
may help foster the
acceptance of harvesting
devices by industrial
users. Software
can also provide a key
role in predicting and
optimizing system-level
performance of parts
and predicting overall
battery life in advance
of deployments. This
can
guide
towards
developers
optimization
and provide an effective
medium of communication
and collaboration
for stakeholders in the
power IoT ecosystem
fostering interdisciplinary
collaborations [1].
Furthermore, recyFIG
9 Developing (a) energy harvesting and (b) wireless power transfer systems. (c) The concept of
designing for dual, harvesting/transfer functionality, from [15].
62 IEEE POWER ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE z June 2023
clability and compliance
with current and
future leg i slat ions
towards green initiatives
and international
sustainable development
goals is of utmost

IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - June 2023

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