Energy Solutions for Wearable Sensors: A Review

Abstract

Wearable sensors have gained popularity over the years since they offer constant and real-time physiological information about the human body. Wearable sensors have been applied in a variety of ways in clinical settings to monitor health conditions. These technologies require energy sources to carry out their projected functionalities. In this paper, we review the main energy sources used to power wearable sensors. These energy sources include batteries, solar cells, biofuel cells, supercapacitors, thermoelectric generators, piezoelectric and triboelectric generators, and radio frequency (RF) energy harvesters. Additionally, we discuss wireless power transfer and some hybrids of the above technologies. The advantages and drawbacks of each technology are considered along with the system components and attributes that make these devices function effectively. The objective of this review is to inform researchers about the latest developments in this field and present future research opportunities.

Screen-printed bismuth telluride nanostructured composites for flexible thermoelectric applications

“…To be suitable for wearable systems the TE materials need to be light-weight with a high degree of mechanical flexibility and be biocompatible and display output powers on the order of a few microwatts per cm 2 [5].…”

Communication Requirements in 5G-Enabled Healthcare Applications: Review and Considerations

“…The importance of battery lifetime increases in implanted devices given the risks associated with the device replacement because of depleted battery. In an attempt to overcome constraints on the battery form factor to accommodate specific implant application, solutions for energy harvesting were considered in the literature that can benefit from the energy present in the environment, human body, and wireless signals [ 143 ]. Duty cycle is also relevant in this context, where a lower duty cycle contributes to longer battery lifetime.…”

Terahertz-Based Joint Communication and Sensing for Precision Agriculture: A 6G Use-Case

“…Studies in the literature on Energy Harvesting (EH) for wireless sensors have proposed several options to consider when designing a system such as the one proposed in Figure 3. EH technologies include the utilisation of light energy from Photovoltaics (PV), electromagnetic energy from Radio Frequency (RF) communication, thermal energy from thermoelectric generators, kinetic energy from piezoelectric devices, and others (Tang et al, 2018;Phillips, 2021;Rong et al, 2021). The question that remains though is "What is the ideal way to power the sensors?".…”