By precisely tuning the device to match the bees’ thoracic vibration frequency and optimizing its center of gravity, the researchers achieved a notable energy output of 5.66 volts and a power density of 1.27 milliwatts per cubic centimeter.
A tiny energy harvester from bees
While recent advances in bio-inspired engineering have brought science closer to efficient energy harvesting for insect cyborgs, creating lightweight devices that don’t interfere with flight still poses a challenge.
To tackle the issue while introducing new design paradigms for micro-scale biological energy harvesting systems, the research team aligned the harvester’s resonant frequency with the bees’ thorax vibrations and optimized its center of gravity. With this, they achieved efficient energy conversion without disrupting the insect’s stability.