The Boeing Company

Eric Hofbeck

Herbert Louis Hoffman

Alex Lin

Disclosed are methods, systems and apparatuses for harvesting vibrational energy from vehicles, as well as methods for locating vibrational energy on a vehicle. One harvesting apparatus comprises a vibrational energy harvester coupled to a substantially maximal vibrational displacement node of the structural element of a vehicle, and tuned to a frequency of vibration of the maximal vibrational displacement node. The harvester may be one of a variety of harvesting devices, such as piezoelectric devices. Methods are also provided to locate structural elements which are appropriate for vibrational energy harvesting.

Growing community of inventors

Lynnwood, WA, United States of America

Eric Hofbeck