Development of a Piezoelectric Footstep Power Generation System with Arduino-Based Monitoring

Abstract: Recently, the demand for sustainable, renewable energy resulted in exploration of alternate energy-harvesting approaches. This paper describes a design and construction approach to a low-cost Footstep Power Generation system that uses piezoelectric transducers that helps to convert the mechanical energy generated by human footsteps into electrical energy. Six 35mm piezoelectric discs are arranged under a walking surface and connected through a rectifier circuit which comprises 1N4007 diodes, a 10μF capacitor, and a BC547 transistor to stipulate the harvested AC signal into a stable DC output. An Arduino Uno microcontroller reads the output voltage via analog pin A0, counts footsteps using edge-detection logic, and displays both parameters in real time on a 16×2 I2C LCD display. A 2×18650 lithium- cell battery pack serves as supplementary power and an optional storage medium. Experimental results verify that the prototype can successfully harvest energy, count steps, and measure voltage, with the LCD showing the number of steps and voltage in millivolts for each footstep event.The system is adequate to prove that piezoelectric transduction is one viable means of harvesting energy from areas where there is a high footfall, such as corridors, stairways, or public walkways.

Keywords: Piezoelectric Transducer; Energy Harvesting; Arduino Uno; Footstep Power; IoT Monitoring; Renewable Energy; LCD Display; BC547; Rectifier Circuit.