Program » PowerMEMS School » Journey

A journey through motion-based energy harvesting: from devices to circuits
Professor Adrien Morel
Université Savoie Mont Blanc
Annecy, France

Abstract
Motion-based energy harvesting is an emerging field with the primary objective of developing autonomous, batteryless sensors that do not require maintenance. This tutorial will delve into the fundamentals of motion-based energy harvesting, covering both mechanical and electrical aspects. Starting from basic analysis of linear motion-based energy harvesters connected to simple AC-DC rectifiers, we will present, discuss, and confront the theory behind these straightforward devices with the challenges posed by real-world, out-of-the-lab applications. Following that, this tutorial will explore some of the research avenues that have been proposed for tackling these challenges and paving the way towards the development of industrial devices. Advanced topics such as nonlinear dynamics, self-powered circuits, and MEMS design will be discussed, in order to provide a broad overview of recent advancements in the realm of motion-based energy harvesters.

Biography
Adrien Morel received his electrical engineering degree from the National Institute of Applied Sciences of Lyon (INSA Lyon) and his M.Sc. degree in integrated systems from Lyon University in 2016. From 2016, he pursued his Ph.D. at CEA in Grenoble, France, focusing on vibration energy harvesting. From 2019 to 2021, he worked as a research engineer at CEA-LETI, where he focused on piezoelectric-based DC-DC conversion and quantum computing. He currently serves as an associate professor at the Laboratory of Systems and Materials for Mechatronics at the Université Savoie Mont Blanc, Annecy, France. His current research interests include energy harvesting, power management circuits, multiphysics modeling, and nonlinear dynamics.