Power Management Applications
In many recent studies, connectivity, security and battery life, are listed as top key challenges of IoT. A key requirement for IoT and M2M is the ability to place wireless sensor terminals in all kinds of locations to collect data. But there is one big issue: the installation of power-distribution wires, or, in the case of battery use, the battery life or the time period for battery replacement. This should not be considered a problem with 10 or 20 batteries, but when there are 1,000 or a million or sensors deployed in a large field, there are concerns not only for battery costs but also the enormous scale of maintenance expenses. This is one reason the dissemination of wireless sensor terminals has become a concern.
Energy harvesting may provide a solution. Energy harvesting technologies use power generating elements such as solar cells, piezoelectric elements, and thermoelectric elements to convert light, vibration, and heat energy into electricity, then use that electricity efficiently. Energy harvesting can replace the battery or extend battery life.