1Dr. A.S.M. Mukter-Uz-Zaman (Team Leader)1Prof. DR. IR. Wong Hin Yong2AIRUL AZHA ABD RAHMAN

1Faculty of Engineering , Multimedia University2IMEN,Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM)

MyTRIZ Competition 2013

NoboGreen

Part 3

Email for corresponding: mukter@mmu.edu.myRegistration No: MTZ8251

Problem To Solve:Profiling environmental parameter using a large number of spatially distributed Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) components is an extensive illustration of advance modern technologies. But high power requirement for WSN components limits the widespread deployment of these technologies. Currently, WSN components are extensively powered up using batteries. But battery has limitation of lifetime, power density and environmental concerns. Thus, it incurs huge maintenance cost and for remote and inaccessible areas battery replacement is simply impossible. Find out alternate solution for powering thousands of WSN components deployed in the remote and distance locations.

Whatever we can predict from the given problem

What Deployment of WSN component is impractical. When Long duration for profiling environmental parametersWhere Remote and distance area such as aquaculture area. Who Thousands of WSN components Why Lack of power and impossible to replace battery How WSN components consume high power

Background of the Problem: Wireless Sensor Network and Research Focus

Wireless Sensor Networks is widely deployed in the large area of interest, which is totally off the power supply grid.

Figure 1: Architecture of a complete WSN

Figure 2: Wide application domain of WSN.

Figure 3: Research Focus on WSN.

Analysis of the Problem

Benefit /Impact of solving the problem– Faster Wide-spread deployment of WSN components – Cheaper Battery replacement cost and battery cost. – Safer No hazardous byproduct coming out from the system – Better reliability No battery related down/dead time– Functionality New functionality added along with data collections by WSN

components

Reason for the Changes: Size, cost, limited life time and environmental impact of battery restrict the wide spread deployment of WSN components.

Figure 4: Photograph of battery powered WSN components

Define Solve

Perceived Problem

EvaluateIdeas

SolutionIdeas

Brainstorm

Resources

Investigate

Ideal Final Result IFR

Space Time Interface

FunctionAttribute Analysis

Su-Field Analysis

Trends of Evolution

Contra-dictions

Problem Statement

TRIZ Methodology used to Solve the Problem

Figure: Used TRIZ methodology to Solve the problem

Functional Attribute Analysis

1. Identifying components of the system

Key components of the system: WSN components, Battery, Power, data collection, data transfer, battery lifetime, casing, circuitry, deployment, etc.

WSN Components

Battery

Data collection

Casing

Power

DataTransmission

DeploymentCircuitry

Battery life

Figure 4: Photograph of battery powered WSN components

Functional Attribute Analysis

2. Identify and Characterize Function of the Components based on the given problem.

Operating Principle: WSN components transmit power to the adjacent components by consuming power

WSN components

Battery

Leakage current

Sleep mode

Transmitter

Duty cyclePower

consumption

Signal sendDifferent Functions.

Power

Output

DataCollection

Protection

Power

Drain

Active mode

Transmit

• Missing functions

• Excessive functions

• Insufficient functions

• Harmful functions

• Useful functions

M• Main Useful function

M

• Missing functions

• Excessive functions

• Insufficient functions

• Harmful functions

• Useful functions

c

M• Main Useful function

Different Functions.

c

Super system

System

Sub-System

Past Present Future

Hyper system

Sensor, transmitter and battery

power

Sensor, transmitter and energy harvester

Sensor, transmitter

and external power

Embedded Circuitry for

power receiving

Embedded Circuitry for

power management

Embedded Circuitry for

power harvest and management

Wired WSN components

Battery powered WSN components

Self-powered WSN

components

Energy harvester

Space Time Interface: Power consumption by WSN components

Hybrid energy harvester

The Ideal Final Result (IFR)

CurrentSituation i f

r

Ideality =Benefits

Costs + HarmIdeality =

Benefits

0 + 0

Battery power

Energy harvester

Hybrid energy

harvester

Perpetual Operation

Infinite life time

The Ideal Final Result (IFR)

Identification and defined the problem.

Figure 3: Wide application domain of WSN.

“SIZE Does MATTER”

Battery occupy up to 90% of the device “ LIFE is SHORT”

Limited Lifetime

“BATTERY is HAZARDOUS”

Contains toxic and explosivematerial

“COST is KILLING all”

Costly and very tedious for battery replacement

Figure 5: Existing battery limitation Figure 6: Scenario with in-house WSN components

PROBLEM STATEMENT90% of WSN

are impractical without energy

harvesting

Technical Contradictions

DegradedParameters

Parameter Numbers

Principles used

Harmful function

30 17,1,40,33

Device complexity

36 All

Weight 8 35,34,38

Ease of Manufacturing

32 35,10

Productivity 39 20,10,35,38

Recommendations

Principle Frequency

1,17,20 1

All 1

35 3

34,40 1

20 1

38 2

Formulate problem in MATRIX Contradictions :Improve Gets worse or Stands in the way

16. Duration of action by stationary object

30. Object affected harmful function

Characteristic to improve: Long lifetime Characteristic becoming worseOr standing in the way: Volume/ Size of the batery

Solution Ideas from Define stage:

From Function Attribute Analysis Energy harvesting from the ambient source of the WSN Self-powered WSN components

From 9-Windows Energy harvester and power management circuitry in the

same structure of the WSN components Scalable Energy harvester with the WSN components

From IFR Hybridization of the energy harvesting components in a

single platform to harvest desire power

Solution Ideas from Solve stage:

From Problem DefinitionReplacement of the battery with energy harvester

From ContradictionsParameter changeStrong oxidantComposite materialsFlexible films/membraneExtractionsContinuity of the useful function

From TrendsHybridization of the energy harvester that is capable to harvest energy from the ambient environment to provide a perpetual operation to the WSN components.

Solution Evaluation Criteria:

Criteria Comparison with known Solution

1.The solution removes the primary tradeoffs and contradictions.

Yes since the power is harvesting from the ambient source it eliminate the dependency on the battery.

2. Do the harmful features disappear? Yes, No more hazardous materials from the thousands of the battery.

3. a) Are the useful features retained? b) Will new benefits appear?

No

4. Will new harmful features/ Contradictions appear?

No

5. Does the solution make system become Simpler? No Change? More complex?

Simpler

6. Are idle, easily available, or underutilized resources used? Is the solution new?

Yes

7. Implementation: Easy, Moderate , Difficult(also: safety, security, compatibility, regulatory)

Easy.

Solution Evaluation

Solution to Pursue (Patented). Solution : Develop a hybrid energy harvesting platform from multiple

ambient sources for WSN components, and integrating energy harvesting sources, storage, circuitry and WSN components in a single platform.

Figure 7: Photograph of the proof-of-concept deployment of working system in the aqua-cultural environment.

Figure 8: Photograph of the system in working condition.

Photograph of the proof-of-concept deployment of working system in the aqua-cultural environment.

Conclusions• In this presentation TRIZ is used to solve the drawback of the

limited life time of battery powered WSN components.• It is found that without energy harvesting WSN components are

impractical to deployment hence a hybrid energy harvester is proposed.

• The proposed energy harvesting system is developed successfully with detailed contemplation of all sub-components, integrated with in-house developed WSN components, and deployed magnificently for profiling environmental parameters.

• Developed innovative solution is patented.