Abstract- Piezoelectric sensors have been used in various forms for energy harvesting using vibrations, repetitive strikes, and bending of structures. This paper will discuss the use of piezoelectric materials within a Ten80 remote-controlled car tire to harvest power that can be used for recharging the battery. The methods used to test the amount of energy produced are compared based on the voltage required to light a blue LED.
Introduction - Flawless Female Engineers is an all-female Ten 80 racing team. Our mission statement is to increase the number of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math who are actively involved in their communities. Last season our team began to explore piezoelectricity, which has helped us collect the research project of applying real-life implications to the Ten80 car. In conversation, we started talking as a team and only a few members knew of piezoelectricity. We recognized that this topic is rarely discussed amongst our generation and to effectively increase awareness of the STEM field this research would be necessary. Ultimately, the goal is to learn more about the Ten80 car and how the usage of the mechanical stress of the piezoelectric sensor can generate energy to charge the battery. In future work, our team would like to know more about how the rate of speed impacts the rate that the batteries of the Ten80 car would charge using the piezoelectric sensors.
History - The origin of the word Piezoelectric stems from the word piezein, which is defined as a squeeze or pressing of something and piezo means to push. (Johnson Electric Company, n.d) In the early 1880's two brothers, Pierre and Jacques Curie, French physicists, concluded a demonstration testing the relationship between solid materials like crystals/ceramics and actual crystallography (the atoms, ions, and or molecules of a crystal structure found under a microscope) testing the electric charge of the crystals when mechanical stress is applied. (Piezo Systems, n.d).
Implemented In the Real World - In relationship to the Automotive Industry, piezoelectric sensors can be used in two ways, directly and indirectly. Often, the sensors are incorporated into manufacturing equipment for cars specifically things that contribute to the accuracy and precision's of fuel economy, safety, and connectivity - ultimately contributing to the performance of the vehicle. For example, the sensors can be incorporated to aid into how and where to aim the headlights of a car to the process of positioning parts for installation. In small cars and SUVs, the industry is dedicated to add more compact sensors for the improvement of vehicles and parts to increase the fuel mileage. ( Piezoelectric Automotive, n.d) The most common usage of piezoelectric sensors are found in tires. According to, Sensors Mag, the National Highway Traffic Administration made it a requirement that manufacturers producing cars and SUVs since 2008 must have a TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System). This can be placed in cars two ways, often both can be monitored from the dashboard of a vehicle - yet one is more reliable than the other. The more reliable and accurate placement of the piezoelectric sensors is in the headlights of Both serve to notify the driver when the tire pressure has is dropped below 25% of the average tire pressure which is 30-35 PSI. (Bridgetown Tire, n.d.). In terms of the future, the automotive industry plans to utilize piezoelectric sensors and control signals to produce energy for a more energy-efficient automotive experience. Piezoelectric materials will play an essential role in the industry as it is moving towards complete autonomous vehicles. According to the CEO of Audi, Scott Keogh, a major German automobile company, predicts that the first driverless car will be on the market by 2020.
Arduino - In this research experiment, an open source electric platform known as Arduino will be utilized. An led blink circuit will be used to indicate the when the sensor is triggered by the tires of the Ten80 car/mechanical stress applied. This circuit consists of: jumper wires, resistors, LEDs, Breadboard, and rails. (seen in attachments) Once the circuit is built, the Arduino micro-controller will be connected to the computer, and the blinking of the LED which will be recorded from the computer via the code provided. (Because Learning, n.d.)