Energy Harvesting Backpack for Applications in Security, Disaster and Remote Areas

Abstract

This research aims to develop a prototype of energy harvesting backpack for applications in security, disaster and remote areas. In the backpack, it will compose of five devices as electrical energy storage, global positioning system (GPS), energy harvesting systems, energy management processing unit, and bulletproof system (for security). The energy harvesting system composes of solar panel 10W power as the main power source, and piezoelectric generator 200mW capacity as optional power generating device in case of no light source or in the forest which produce electricity from the user’s movement instead. The backpack was designed base on ergonomics and back support to reduce fatigues. Besides, the energy harvest devices were able to reduce the battery’s weight without effect on operation periods. In addition, as a soldier usually walks for a long distance during patrol, the use of piezoelectric generator is effectively suitable. However, the energy harvesting from motion is not steady so, the high charging rate energy storage such as capacitor has been used for energy stabilizing. On the experiment, energy harvest backpack can power the radio with 2W transmission power up to 26 hours and standby up to 52 hours.