The Wind Reaper is a prototype for a highway-based sensor platform that powers itself by collecting energy from passing cars (via a vertical-axis wind turbine) and the sun (via a photovoltaic module). The system utilizes an ultra-low-power microcontroller to collect and process data from user-configurable sensors. The collected data is transmitted wirelessly at specified intervals throughout its daily operation. The system is also capable of detecting abnormal readings and signaling their occurrence with an “emergency” transmission. The Wind Reaper is intended to be the base for future research and development into applications for self-energy sensors.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Welch, Ryan Daniel
• Zayac, Mark Andrew
• Thornhill, Ryan John

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032615-164808

Advisor

• Lai, Lifeng

Year

• 2015

Date created

• 2015-03-26

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Electrical & Computer Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright