Design, Modeling, and Experimental Evaluation of a Hybrid Footstep Energy Harvester

Global population growth is driving a sharp rise in electricity demand across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. Fossil fuels remain the dominant source of power, yet their reserves are rapidly diminishing. The mechanism was fabricated and tested. The DC generator produced an average output voltage ranging from 8 V to 11.8 V for a load weight of 40–80 kg at rotational speeds of 45–300 rpm. In case of piezoelectric device, potential energy is converted into electric energy. The maximum output average voltage from piezoelectric transducer array is 5.5 V at load weight of 80 kg with a mechanical-to electrical conversion efficiency of 11.6 %. Increased foot traffic on the tiles would result in a greater number of footsteps, leading to higher and more practical voltage outputs over extended periods. The experimental results were compared with the simulation and were found lying within accordance with each other at similar loading conditions. The proposed hybrid energy harvester, characterized by ease of installation, minimal environmental impact, high cost-effectiveness, pollution-free operation, and straightforward implementation, emerges as a promising candidate for deployment in high-footfall areas such as train stations, shopping malls, and smart pavements, providing a scalable and sustainable approach to meeting micro-power demands.