Advancements in Energy-Autonomous Wireless Sensor Networks: Integrating Simultaneous Energy Harvesting and Ambient Light Sensing Systems

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are widely used for surveillance applications, including detecting moisture and temperature in intelligent structures, automating industries, and predicting crop health. Sensor nodes are strategically placed in distant locations to detect and gather data from the surrounding environment, which is then sent to the Base Station (BS). When a sensor is depleted of power, it cannot fulfill its function without a replacement energy source. Nevertheless, the constrained energy capacity of a sensor's battery hinders the sustained operation in such applications. To address the energy constraint without altering the dimensions of the sensors, scientists have suggested using energy harvesting to replenish the battery's capacity via power supply. Hence, it is essential to implement effective power management to maximize the advantages of harnessing supplementary environmental energy. Furthermore, changing the power sources of the sensors and redeploying them incurs significant costs in terms of both time and cost. This paper presents a wireless sensor platform that addresses the need for Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications requiring numerous maintenance-free, affordable wireless sensor nodes. The proposed platform features a Single Photovoltaic Transducer (SPVT) that serves the dual purpose of Energy Harvesting and Ambient Light Sensing (EH-ALS). This dual functionality enables the employment of smaller and more affordable nodes that do not rely on an additional power source, resulting in decreased components. The device utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology for communication and can collect and detect interior light conditions with a detection threshold of 210 LUX. The Light Intensity (kLUX) readings show a distinct pattern from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM for the Simultaneous EH-ALS system with SPVT. Between 10:00 AM and 10:08 AM, the light intensity gradually increases and reaches its maximum at 12 kLUX.