College of Engineering Unit:
The Vehicle Energy Harvesting team was tasked by Mike Miga at ConMet to develop a prototype mechanism that could harvest electrical energy from the mechanical displacements of a Class 8 tractor trailer's cabin suspension system. ConMet is a leading manufacturer in OEM wheel hubs as well as structural plastic and aluminum casting components for the commercial vehicle industry.
The project began with a considerable amount of time researching currently available devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The team discovered from research that the overall most efficient and reliable method for conversion was from two-way linear oscillations to one-way rotations. The prototype utilizes a 500-Watt AC generator, one-way bearings, and a 1:35 gear ratio overdrive.
Industry Sponsor(s):
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Expo Poster | 1.45 MB |