Energy Harvesting

The amount of connected intelligent devices in the context of the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly – until 2025 there will be approximately one thousand billion IoT devices. With these developments also comes an increase in energy demand – all these devices have to be supplied with electricity. “In the EU project EnABLES we search for possibilities to reduce the power consumption of IoT devices in the spirit of sustainability. With the application of energy harvesting solutions the necessity of a battery change should be avoided. At our institute we want to do our part as well”, explains Dr. Gerd vom Bögel of Fraunhofer IMS.

Representatives of the EnABLES partners at a project meeting in Cork (Ireland). On the far right: Dr. Gerd vom Bögel of Fraunhofer IMS
© Fraunhofer IMS
Representatives of the EnABLES partners at a project meeting in Cork (Ireland). On the far right: Dr. Gerd vom Bögel of Fraunhofer IMS

Financed by the EU the participating institutes offer their know-how and infrastructure to third parties within the framework of the EU research infrastructure project. This also includes the free access to simulations and laboratories as well as concept and feasibility studies for interested parties from the industry and application-oriented research. The joint research is based on the areas energy harvesting, energy storage, power management and system integration. “Within the framework of the EnABLES project IoT developers and manufacturers are supported in particular. The offer ranges from technologies and situation models up to the design of devices and systems”, explains Gerd vom Bögel. All EnABLES partners have the fundamental knowledge and experiences in the implementation of IoT applications. This is supposed to be used for the support of users in the implementation of these technologies. The services range from feasibility studies over development support through simulation up to the test of prototypes – depending on the requested application. Fraunhofer IMS carries out the feasibility studies of a completely wireless sensor (energy supply and measurement data transfer via radio) for industry and building applications or performance measurements of a novel harvester IC.

A first step within the project is the setup of a so-called “start community”, a platform in which all EnABLES partners can network. This way, the internal cooperation can be strengthened – joint research work, under the consideration of the individual requirements and possibilities contribute their part as well. Moreover, a portal has been built (https://www.enables-project.eu/) that allows for communication to researchers and laboratories. Interested parties can sign up without obligations to get further information. Specific inquiries for support in form of services by the EnABLES partners can be made easily and unbureaucraticly via the portal.

 

Partners

The EnABLES project is supported within the program “Horizon 2020“ of the European Union. The following European institutes are working on the project: Tyndall National Institute (Ireland), CEA Leti & Liten (France), Fraunhofer IMS (Germany), Fraunhofer IIS (Germany), imec (Netherlands), Karlsruher Institut für Technologie (Germany), Politecnico Di Torino (Italy), Universität Bologna (Italy), Universität von Perugia (Italy) and the University of Southampton (Great Britain).

Boost & Fly-System

Mobile cyber-physical system and their energy-autonomous operation.

Miniaturized Solar Cells

Solar cell on CMOS sensors for self-sufficient use 

Our applications - Examples of what we can do for you

SHF-Reader

To increase the performance of readers, Fraunhofer IMS offers methods for better carrier suppression and signal evaluation.

Infrastructure Monitoring

In the application area of infrastructure monitoring “Drones4Energy“ is an innovative drone project that adds to the newest technologies for the electrical and communications engineering.

Digitalization in the Industry

Modular sensor systems for real-time process control and smart condition assessment.

Monitoring of Overhead Lines

Sensor system with self-sufficient sensor modules using energy harvesting to monitor the operating parameters (condition monitoring) of high voltage overhead lines.

Intelligent Reliability 4.0

Increase reliability of LiDAR detectors by optimizing manufacturing and testing processes (iRel 4.0)

Our fields of application - Our expertise for you

Sustainable Production

  • Optimization of raw material and energy use
  • Use of alternative energy sources and energy-autonomous sensors
  • Green ICT

Mobile autonomous Manufacturing

  • Sensors / Control for Robots / Cobots
  • Industrial transport systems (AGV)
  • Human-Machine Interaction

Industrial-AI

  •  Decentralized AI systems and platforms
  • Sensor/actuator optimization and cost efficiency through local AI.
  • Pattern recognition methods

Trustworthy Electronics

  • Protection against product piracy / Counterfeit-proof labeling
  • Tamper-proof and fail-safe electronics
  • Trustworthy supply chains
 

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