Harnessing Energy from the Natural Surroundings: A Guide
The SNAPS (Self-powering Networked Autonomous Power Suppliers) project, funded by the federal government, is an innovative initiative led by a team of engineers from the Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW Dresden). The goal of the project is to generate electricity from various sources, including human, animal, and machine movements.
The heart of the SNAPS project lies in its energy harvesters, designed to be easily expandable, scalable, and sustainable. These harvesters are intended for use in monitoring machines and plants, such as wind turbines, and can potentially supply tracking chips in dairy farming with energy. They are also designed to convert various types of mechanical movements into usable electricity.
The energy harvesters in the SNAPS project harness environmental energy, such as mechanical movements, and convert it into usable electricity. This electricity is then used to power autonomous electric power generators, which are significantly more resource-efficient in production compared to conventional batteries. The electronics in these generators ensure the highest possible efficiency and adapt the voltage provided by the generator to the requirements of the connected load.
One of the key advantages of the SNAPS project's energy harvesters is their long lifespan. They are designed to operate largely independently and sustainably, making them a promising solution for future energy needs. The individual materials used in the energy harvesters are also recyclable, further enhancing their sustainability.
The initial focus of the SNAPS project is on the cow, which is constantly chewing and twitching its tail and ears. However, the potential applications of these energy harvesters extend beyond dairy farming. Autonomous power suppliers ranging from a few centimeters to several decimeters in size are possible with the SNAPS project's energy harvesters, making them versatile and adaptable to a wide range of situations.
As the SNAPS project continues to develop, it promises to pave the way for a future where energy is generated from unconventional sources and where batteries and power outlets are no longer necessary for powering our devices and machines. While the names of the engineers at HTW Dresden working on the project are not yet publicly available, the team's dedication to creating a new generation of "energy harvesters" is undoubtedly driving us towards a more sustainable and efficient future.
