ME graduate students win awards for their research

Tue, 10 May 2016 14:48:29 -0400

Chris Mullen won the first place prize in 11th PROMISE Research Symposium and Professional Development Conference (UMCP, MD). His work is entitled "Optimization of an Electromagnetic Energy Harvester". Implementation of energy harvesting technology can provide a sustainable, remote power source for soldiers by reducing the battery weight and allowing them to stay in the field for longer periods of time. Electromagnetic energy harvesters scavenge energy from wasted kinematic and vibration energy found from human motion. In this research, he conducted the design study using a multi-variable optimization algorithm to identify an optimal coil and magnet layout for maximization of power output. This work has been supported by US Army CERDEC since 2015.

Chris and Amin Eshghi presented their research at the SAMPE Baltimore-Washington University Research Symposium (UMCP, MD) and won 2nd (poster) and 4th (oral presentation) place prizes. Amin’s research is entitled “Parameter Study and Optimization for Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensor”. In this research, he performed a design parameter study and design optimization for a piezoelectric energy harvester considering vehicle speed variation, using computer simulation. This harvester is composed of a beam which is clamped at both ends and a piezoelectric material is attached on the top of that. To optimize the harvester performance, the geometrical parameters of the harvester are changed to obtain the maximum power. His research was supported by Korean Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), 2015.