Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer Project

The Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer project aimed to design and fabricate a footstep energy harvester using piezoelectric transducer. The project utilized free human energy for generation, had lower installation and maintenance costs, and was extremely cost-effective. The project involved designing circuits for electricity generation and waste energy utilization, selecting the best piezoelectric materials, and using a microcontroller. The project faced issues with the microcontroller and piezoelectric sensor, which were solved by reforming applied energy and changing the sensor. The plan was to produce innovative and creative work by working collaboratively.

CE 3.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 3.2 Project Background
CE 3.2.1 Characteristics of the project
The project of Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer was my
mini project in aeronautical engineering career. This project comprised of various features
like the utilization of free human energy for the generation and lower installation costs. The
maintenance cost was absolutely free of cost and there was no transportation cost within this
generation. Piezoelectric Transducers are the specific kinds of electro acoustic transducers,
which are responsible for the conversion of electrical chargers, produced by some of the
forms of various solid materials into energy. Pressure was being applied for generating the
footstep energy harvester. Moreover, the foot step energy harvester was extremely cost
effective and popular.
CE 3.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
This particular project of Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer
consisted of two important objectives. They are as follows:
 To design and fabricate foot step energy harvester.
 To design the foot step energy harvester with the help of piezoelectric transducer.

CE 3.2.3 My area of work
The project of Footstep Energy Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer was
executed by utmost sincerity and dedication. My major area of work was to design the foot
step energy harvester. Since our purpose was to produce the power plant by not using fuel
such as coal or nuclear fuel, I made sure that I make the design properly. My other area of
work involved designing of such distinct circuits that is responsible in producing electricity
and waste energy is utilized. I even suggested using the piezoelectric materials for the
successful generation. I was also responsible for using microcontroller in the project.
CE 3.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project
CE 3.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I had some of the major responsibilities in this particular project of Footstep Energy
Harvester Using Piezoelectric Transducer. My first important responsibility in this particular
project was to design the foot step energy harvester by the utilization of a piezoelectric
transducer. I was responsible for the successful execution of the project. Being an

aeronautical engineer, it was my duty to analyze the entire system properly and take relevant
steps in the execution part of the project. My next responsibility was to make sure that power
is produced significantly, without having any type of utilization of nuclear fuel and coal. This
type of fuels is extremely expensive and thus our project was effective in this case to reduce
the overall price. I even checked various piezoelectric materials and selected the best material
amongst them. I also assisted my project supervisor in the project and researched about the
several advantages and disadvantages of these materials.
CE 3.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 3.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I had applied some of the major skills in this particular project. My aeronautical
engineering skills and knowledge were extremely useful in this project to make it successful.
The most important skill applied in the project was the power of critical thinking. This
particular skill helped me in identifying the various options and take up significant steps to
the several problems. Furthermore, the significant skill for designing and assessing the
performances were checked here. My designing skills and systems evaluation were helpful in
making the design of the footstep energy harvester properly and perfectly. The other
engineering skills and knowledge were system analysis and numerical analysis that helped
me to adapt the changes eventually.
CE 3.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
The generation of electricity by human foot using piezoelectric material is a harness
human locomotion power a specific setup, which would be deriving energy from the
pounding feet within crowded place. This particular technology could be considered as the
significant proposal for the attached human power as the sustainable energy source. Here we
use the piezoelectric material for generation. The property of this type of material is it

converts the applied pressure into electrical energy, by using this property we are generating
the power. First of all we built the piezoelectric plate on which pressure can be applied this
plates having the piezoelectric crystals. After that we make such type of circuit which stored
the generated energy in batteries to use it after for other purpose. Here we provide a LCD
display to display the amount of voltage generated. This can be done by using
microcontroller.
When we press the piezoelectric material sheet then the positive charge is produced
and when we release it then the negative charge is produced. This is the basic concept in this
project this is happen because the ion structure. Here we have used 16 crystals in parallel
manner, means the four crystals are arrange in series and this series are then connected in
parallel.
Figure 2: Operation of piezoelectric materials
When the pressure is applied to piezoelectric material it reduces, means it compress
and when it compress it produces a positive potential and when the pressure is released ,
means during tension it produces a negative potential. One of the most important
disadvantages or demerits of this piezoelectric sensor is that these could not be utilized for
the perfect static measurements. The static force would be resulting in the fixed amount of
various charges over the piezoelectric materials.

The 16 crystals were arranges in 4*4 fashion, means first 4 crystals are connected in
series and these set of 4 crystals are now connected in parallel to make the 4*4 fashion.
Diodes are connected along with each crystal to avoid reverse battery current which can
damage the crystals. The diode is IN4007 having forward conducting characteristics. It is a
silicon diode having pick-up value 0.7volt and hence it can consume some generated energy
causes reduction in efficiency.
Figure 3: Connection of Piezoelectric sensors
The electronic filter is the electronic circuit, which performs the functions of signal
processing specially for removing the unnecessary frequency elements from a signal, for
enhancing the required ones, or even both. The passive implementation of various linear
filters is on the basis of the combination of resistor or R, inductor or L and capacitor or C.
The capacitive filter could be utilized within this project. This specific filter helped in
removing each and every ripple from output of the rectifier and then smoothened the D.C.
The output that is received from the filter is considered as constant unless the main voltage or

the load is being maintained constantly. However, when either of these two was varied, the
specific D.C. voltage got at the point was changed. Hence, a basic regulator was being
applied at stage of output. In this specific project, we utilized diode as the device of
unidirectional current controller. Since, we were familiar with all the common functions of
this diode; we knew that it allowed the electric current in passing to any one direction. We
have utilized the diode of D=1N4007 in the project.
CE 3.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
3.3.4.1 Issues
I had faced few issues in this particular project of Footstep Energy Harvester Using
Piezoelectric Transducer. The first and the most significant issue that I had faced here was
while applying the pressure and other technical capabilities in the footstep energy harvester.
The specific microcontroller that I had been using in the project did not give proper results
and thus energy was being wasted in the process. Moreover, the power consumption was also
on the higher side and hence this energy or power was supposed to be reduced to a strict
limit. The second significant issue that I had faced in this project was while using the
piezoelectric sensor. This particular sensor was expected to convert the pressure to voltage.
However, our project sensor was unable to do so. This became a major issue for us as we
were major difficulties and delays in the project.
3.3.4.2 Solutions
To solve these above mentioned issues, I suggested relevant solutions. For the very
first issue of keeping energy intact and not wasting it in any way, I suggested to reform the
applied energy back to the respective usable form. With the help of this solution, I was able
to solve the issue of power and pressure. This helped me in reducing the consumption of
power and pressure to a greater level and hence power generation by footstep energy

harvester was done easily. For the next issue of piezoelectric sensor, I suggested changing our
sensor from the existing one and hence our issue was solved. This updated piezoelectric
sensor easily converted the pressure to voltage.
CE 3.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
My plan was to produce innovative and creative work by working collaboratively. I
segregated my entire work properly and each task was executed properly and with utmost
sincerity. Moreover, regular follow-ups were taken, so that the project does not face any type
of problem.