This tutorial provides an introduction to operating principles of kinetic micro-generators and associated electronics, modelling and power optimisation of mixed-technology energy harvester systems using modern hardware description languages.  The fundamental analysis will be supported by real world industrial case studies of energy harvester systems in sensor applications that highlight the challenges involved.  The focus of this tutorial will be on kinetic energy harvesting, which converts movement or vibrations into electrical energy and is the subject of a considerable research interest.

Implications of harvested power in autonomous electronic systems design will be explained as well as general background necessary in the modelling of mixed-technology electrical/non-electrical systems.  Extensive coverage will be given to the design of both the power conditioning electronics and the autonomous system electronics including operating strategies and wireless communications.  Hardware description language descriptions will be used to illustrate the principles of mixed-technology system modelling and optimisation where electrical, mechanical and magnetic parts interact.  The tutorial will also outline design techniques to obtain optimal power conditioning circuits that maximise available energy and strategies that minimise power consumption and enable operation.

The main objective of this tutorial is to provide the electronic designer with the knowledge required to fully exploit the energy harvesting revolution.