Energy Harvesting For Wireless Sensors In Aeronautics Applications: From Dream To Reality

International audienceNew applications of embedded systems are envisioned in the context of aeronautics. However, the increasing burden of on-board cabling requires wireless solutions. Moreover, concerns such as safety or system lifetime often preclude the use of electrochemical energy storage. Ambient energy capture, storage and management are therefore key topics. In this paper we illustrate these concepts by describing three actual implementations in an Airbus aircraft. The first application is energy harvesting for wireless in flight-testing. The main objectives are autonomous, battery-free power supply of a wireless system including pressure sensing glove, signal processing and RF communication. The system should be able to start-up with initial empty storage. The second application is dedicated to the autonomous power supply for aeronautical health monitoring sensors in the engine harsh environment of an Airbus A380 using thermogeneration as energy source. The third and last example is a more prospective study on the potentialities of aeroacoustic energy harvesting that was successfully validated in a wind tunnel