Energy harvesting for mobile agents supporting wireless sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have been deployed widely in many different application including in civil and military fields. The sensing data from the networks is very diverse and may cost huge energy consumption for transmission. Hence, mobile sensors with high capacity are deployed to support the static sensors dealing with longer range communicating distances and also supplying power wirelessly the sensors if possible. This paper focuses on an energy harvesting (EH) design for either mobile agents or sensor nodes in WSNs. A hybrid EH system can harvest energy from ambient environment around to power the mobile sensors and static sensors. In addition, these mobile sensors and transfer power wirelessly to the sensors if required. We provide different scenarios for harvesting energy from both RF and solar energy to support the devices. All the designed circuits based on mathematical equations are provided, specifically. Simulation and experimental results are addressed to clarify all the scenarios for the networks. The results show promise and practical.