Energy Harvesting Technologies for Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems

Tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) are becoming increasingly important to ensure safe and efficient use of tires in the automotive sector. A typical TPMS system consists of a battery powered wireless sensor, as part of the tire, and a remote receiver to collect sensor data, such as pressure and temperature. In order to provide a maintenance-free and battery-less sensor solution there is growing interest in using energy harvesting technologies to provide power for TPMS. This paper summarizes the current literature and discusses the use of piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electret and triboelectric materials in a variety of harvesting systems.