Cost-effective energy harvesting solution for the IoT
Designed to address cost and maintenance issues associated with battery replacement for wireless sensors, the VP3 Vibration Perpetual Power Pod generates electrical energy from vibrations such as those from industrial machines and uses it to trickle charge a specialized 160 mAH on-board battery, offering a continuous supply of power for wireless sensors. Current battery-driven wireless sensors, says the company, only have lifetimes of one to two years, which in an industrial application with hundreds to thousands of potential sensor placements, each battery replacement can cost up to $500.
Based on an electromagnetic transducer design, proprietary analog boost circuitry, and specialized battery integration, the VP3 is offered as providing 10+ years of lifetime for sensors. Unlike many other vibration-based energy harvesters, says the company, the VP3 offers a combination of high power output plus small size plus affordability.
According to the company, the device can provide up to 10 mW of direct battery power generation from vibrations with less than 1 g of acceleration and can accommodate all wireless technologies with no conditioning circuitry required. The output of the “plug-and-play” device is claimed to be easily integrated with existing equipment and offers seamless charging/discharging.
The VP3 is available in a 54 mm (d) x 42 mm (h) ruggedized waterproof IP67 enclosure and can operate over a -20°C to +85°C temperature range. The device comes in two versions: A 30-Hz and a 60-Hz version, both priced at $149 each.
For more, see the VP3 product brief. A company white paper – “Practical Power Solutions For Wireless IoT” – is also available.
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