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Energy Harvesting Dynamic Vibration Absorbers

Funded by Royal Society Newton Fellowship, this work proposes a new approach for piezoelectric vibration energy harvesting. Conventional approach uses one mass, tuned to resonate at the dominant excitation frequency. This transmits the vibration to the base of the harvester. A trial by US army for ‘energy harvesting backpack’ showed that the transmitted vibration is highly undesirable. Contrary to the conventional approach, two coupled oscillators are used such that the vibration of the primary mass is absorbed by a secondary mass from where the energy is harvested. Prototype building and routes to commercialisation are currently being perused.