Footstep Energy Harvesting System: Design, Implementation and Performance Analysis

Abstract

Energy harvesting from everyday human activity offers a sustainable pathway to power low-consumption electronic devices without depending on conventional fossil-fuel-based electricity. This paper presents the design, development, and performance evaluation of a Footstep Energy Harvesting System that converts the mechanical energy of human footsteps into usable electrical energy using piezoelectric transducers. The system integrates 35 mm piezoelectric discs, a bridge rectifier, a voltage regulation and storage stage, and a NodeMCU ESP32 microcontroller for real-time monitoring through the Blynk IoT platform. Multiple piezoelectric discs were wired in parallel to enhance current output, and a BC547 transistor-based charge controller was employed to prevent overcharging of the lithium-ion storage battery. The prototype was evaluated through functional, integration, durability, environmental, and safety test cases, achieving high accuracy and reliability across most parameters. The results demonstrate that footstep energy harvesting is a practical micro-energy solution for powering LEDs, sensors, and low-power IoT devices in high-footfall public spaces such as railway stations, malls, and educational institutions, while also promoting awareness of renewable and eco-friendly energy practices.