According to Microstrain Inc., its energy-harvesting wireless strain sensing modules operate indefinitely—without the need for batteries—by converting the components’ cyclic strains into DC power using piezoelectric materials. The miniaturized energy-harvesting sensing nodes, called ESG-LINKs, exhibit a precision time-keeper, non-volatile memory for onboard data logging and a frequency-agile IEEE 802.15.4 transceiver. By continuously monitoring the strains on rotating components, the nodes can record operational loads, compute metal fatigue and estimate remaining component life. Sampling rates, sample durations, sensor offsets, sensor gains and onboard shunt calibration are wirelessly programmable. In addition, Microstrain reports that these smart wireless sensor nodes can adapt their operating modes in accordance with the amount of energy available at any given time.

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