Work

Development of Plucked Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting From Human’s Upper Limb Motion

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This paper presents the design, modeling, and implementation of a plucked piezoelectric energy harvester (PEH) optimized for human elbow motion. The proposed system leverages the advantages of upper-limb biomechanics, particularly elbow flexion during walking, to generate electrical energy suitable for powering wearable electronics. A compact bimorph PZT-based PEH was selected and integrated with a mechanical plucking mechanism to enable frequency up-conversion from low-frequency body motion to high-frequency piezoelectric vibration. An electromechanical model predicting the electrical output and energy harvesting performance of a plucked PEH system was developed using Hamilton’s Principle and validated through experiments, showing strong agreement in voltage response and energy output. Implemented in MATLAB/Simulink, the model also served as a design tool for parametric optimization, allowing efficient tuning of system parameters prior to prototyping. Furthermore, parameter optimization through experimental tests identified a plucking distance of 0.16 mm and a load resistance of$800\Omega $as optimal for the decided bimorph PZT in energy harvesting. The developed prototype successfully demonstrated repeatable energy generation ranging from 22–$33~\mu $J per elbow movement cycle under simulated motion. This work offers a validated framework for future development of energy-autonomous wearable devices that are lightweight, compact, and ergonomically compatible.

Source: IEEE Access

DOI: 10.1109/access.2025.3597015