Watermill principle applied to energy harvesting for sensor nodes in underground environments

A novel energy harvesting system, inspired by the watermill principle, enables autonomous operation of wireless sensor nodes in underground environments. This innovation allows for real-time remote monitoring of critical environmental parameters in historic aqueducts, such as Siena's 'Bottini,' without relying on external power sources. The system leverages water flow to drive an electric motor, coupled with a power control mechanism that manages energy accumulation and consumption. Laboratory tests validated the effectiveness of this approach, demonstrating its potential for long-term, self-sustaining monitoring in culturally significant underground infrastructures.

Andreadis, A., Pozzebon, A., & Vaccarella, P. (2016). Watermill principle applied to energy harvesting for sensor nodes in underground environments. 2016 IEEE International Smart Cities Conference (ISC2), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1109/isc2.2016.7580844