Wind dynamics and leaf motion: Approaching the design of high-tech devices for energy harvesting for operation on plant leaves.

ABSTRACT: High-tech sensors, energy harvesters, and robots are increasingly being developed for operation on plant leaves. This introduces an extra load which the leaf must withstand, often under further dynamic forces like wind. Here, we took the example of mechanical energy harvesters that consist of flat artificial "leaves" fixed on the petioles of N. oleander, converting wind energy into electricity. We developed a combined experimental and computational approach to describe the static and dynamic mechanics of the natural and artificial leaves individually and join them together in the typical energy harvesting configuration. The model, in which the leaves are torsional springs with flexible petioles and rigid lamina deforming under the effect of gravity and wind, enables us to design the

SUBMITTER: Meder F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9644130 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature