A Novel Power Chip for Opportunistic Energy Harvesting on Submarines

Our objective is to develop a novel, MEMS-based, durable power harvesting chip that is capable of gathering, converting and storing multiple natural energy sources, including optical and thermal radiation, microwave and millimeter electromagnetic waves, and vibrations, into usable electrical energy capable of operating low power electronic devices, especially wireless sensor systems on a submarine. This solution offers several advantages over the existing methodologies of electromagnetic energy harvesting, including: multiple energy sources, operational in various environments, higher energy conversion, easy rectification, high power output to volume ratio, and compatibility with standard microfabrication techniques. In Phase I, we will focus on analysis, design and testing the components of the power chip and experimental validation of the feasibility to harvest ambient energies adaptable to a wireless sensor solution in the laboratory. In addition, we will evaluate reliability and operational protocol for the proposed power chip. In Phase II, we will optimize and fabricate the device developed in Phase I, followed by a demonstration of energy harvesting in a representative environment using a scaled prototype. The power device will be integrated with an energy storage system that is suitable for sensor operation. Finally we will demonstrate performance against established parameters in a representative environment.