Energy harvesting devices such as solar panels and wind generators collect energy sources and convert them to generate power. Such devices are economical and efficient and also allow energy to be generated and devices and applications powered in places without conventional power sources,
such as underwater. Energy harvesting also has the potential to be used to satisfy the need for energy autonomy that autonomous electronics, the Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices demand. At the University of Surrey, UK, Dr Simon King is collaborating with Dr Bilal Malik, Dr Maxim
Shkunov and Dr Pavlos Giannakou on a project called flexible smart SURFaces for Augmented indoor communicationS (SURFAS) to design energy harvesting surfaces (antennas) for zero-power consuming electronic devices. Each team member has their own speciality and all share the common goal of revolutioning
the ways that devices access and consume energy. The goal is to reduce energy consumption and provide cost benefits. Part of the team's current work involves the use of novel printing techniques to fabricate flexible radio frequency (RF) devices, such as rectifying antennas. The team believes
the development of fully integrated printed energy harvesting devices will lead to countless future IoT applications. The ultimate objective of SURFAS is to enable zero-power consumption electronic devices and smart surfaces that are capable of optimally redirecting Wi-Fi signals and enhancing
the performance of receivers. The team is also working to develop a manufacturing process for rapidly and cost-effectively producing such devices.
