Measurement of mechanical vibrations : Measurement of ambient energy in the form of mechanical vibrations in transportation, storage and installment for the use of self-powered wireless sensor networks

Abstract: This project aims to explore the feasibility of using energy harvesting to create a self-powered sensor node that doesn't require batteries. The project was initiated by Ericsson, who identified a need to monitor their radio products during delivery to ensure they are not damaged by vibrations that exceed design specifications. By developing a method to measure mechanical vibrations during product transportation on a standard route, this research contributes to a wider understanding of mechanical vibrations. For this to be a project on the Master's thesis the project includes several different skill set requirements from the student, such as data gathering, data analysis, hardware design, software design, planning and performing studies, feedback analysis of design and methods and the ability to present the work in an engineering wise manner. Through this work, the student can show the engineering knowledge he is expected to have. The problem was solved by performing a case study that studies that can be analyzed to conclude the general vibration characteristics within a transport. The study also looks into investigating what points on a transport pallet experience higher magnitudes of vibrations. The thesis concludes that there are possible periods during the transport chain where vibrations are of a sufficient magnitude to perform energy harvesting to power a sensor, but powering a node that can measure and log data is unlikely given current technology. Furthermore, in storage facilities when the device is stationary, vibration amplitudes are insignificant for energy harvesting. There is also a measured trend that the position of the sensor matters, the study result recommends that energy harvesting is performed as close as possible to the vibration source as is possible.