A remote monitoring system for wind speed and direction based on non-contact triboelectric nanogenerator

Abstract

Wind speed and wind direction sensors are crucial sensor categories in the Internet of Things (IoT), particularly vital in fields such as meteorological monitoring, construction engineering, transportation engineering, and ocean engineering. However, power supply remains a key limiting factor for the widespread application of these sensors in large-scale sensor networks. In this paper, a self-powered, non-contact wind speed and direction sensor based on the triboelectric nanogenerator (SD-TENG) is proposed. The optimized wind speed measurement structure has a start-up wind speed as low as 0.2 m/s and exhibits good linearity in the range of 0.2–29 m/s. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates high temperature and humidity resistance, with a voltage attenuation of 2.4 % at 45°C ambient temperature and 9.8 % at 95 % relative humidity. For wind direction measurement, the design of non-uniform electrodes enhances the recognition capability of different channels. To meet the demands of remote monitoring, we have designed an advanced signal processing circuit that can directly convert the raw output of a wind speed sensor into wind speed information and upload it to a cloud platform via a host. This system not only records and displays wind speed data in real-time but also features historical data storage and alarm functionalities, enhancing the intelligence and automation levels of wind speed monitoring. Additionally, users can access and analyze wind speed data through both computer and mobile devices, ensuring the system's efficiency and reliability. This work provides crucial technical support for the advancement of smart cities, clean energy, and environmental monitoring, thereby promoting the application and dissemination of IoT technology in the environmental field.