Humdinger Wind Energy LLC seriously believes that the scaled down versions of wind turbines could power tiny wireless sensors to bring about the new information age. It has developed a device called the MicroBelt to replace the use of batteries for powering these sensors. The device utilizes aeroelastic flutter and membranous vibration and does not feature a spinning turbine. Hence, even at a minimal wind speed, say 3 m/s, the device can produce milliwatts of power with ten times more efficiency. At 5.5 m /s of wind flow, the power output is 2mW.
The MicroWindbelt can continuously provide power to any application where air is flowing: under a vehicle, inside the ducting of a building, or at the out-flow of a factory. So very soon, you might see this cell phone-sized wind-generating device finding applications in building monitoring and transit monitoring. The wireless and battery-free device is made from relatively cheaper materials and is perfectly portable.
