Deflection-Based Energy Harvesting Speed Breaker and It’s Mechatronic Application

A novel energy harvester inspired by a winding mechanism which utilises the loading deflection because of vehicle mobility, when it crosses speed breaker is designed and fabricated. The method of energy harvesting using deflection produced by vehicle weight moving on the road can provide a relatively larger and continuous power to the connected load. The developed system in accordance with mechanical motion rectifier has used a method for converting deflection produced by the weight of the vehicle passing over the speed breaker to electrical energy, which resolves the issue of regeneration of lost energy from impulsive vibration. The design approach, power calculation and working mechanism of energy harvester are presented. The dead load application in the lab gives a peak output of 4.6 W and a steady state output of 3.25 W. A sedan vehicle is considered for the realisation of the developed system, which ultimately gives peak output of 18.4 W and a steady-state output of 13 W, which can be utilised to power the typical traffic lights of 12 W along with the street lights. This method of decentralised energy harvesting can lead to a grid-independent traffic signal and control.