Footstep Power Generation Project Using Arduino

 

Project Overview

Footstep Power Generation is a system that converts human walking energy into electrical power using piezoelectric sensors.
Each step produces a small voltage, which is collected, stored, and monitored using Arduino UNO.

🔋 Energy that is normally wasted → converted into usable electricity

---

🎯 Objectives

• Generate electricity from footsteps

• Store energy in a battery

• Display voltage & step count

• Power small loads (LED, USB charging)

• Promote green energy awareness

---

🧠 Working Principle (Simple)

When pressure is applied to a piezoelectric sensor, it generates an electrical voltage.

1. Person steps on tile

2. Piezo sensors generate AC voltage

3. Rectifier converts AC → DC

4. Capacitor smooths voltage

5. Battery stores energy

6. Arduino:

   • Measures voltage

   • Counts footsteps

   • Displays data on LCD

---

🧩 Components Required

🔌 Electronics

• Arduino UNO

• Piezoelectric sensors (6–12 pcs)

• Bridge Rectifier (or 4 × 1N4007 diodes)

• Capacitor (1000µF / 2200µF)

• Rechargeable Battery (3.7V Li-ion)

• TP4056 charging module (recommended)

• Voltage Divider (10kΩ, 100kΩ)

• 16×2 LCD (I2C preferred)

• LEDs

• Buzzer (optional)

🧱 Mechanical

• Wooden / acrylic base

• Rubber sheet / foam

• Springs (optional)

• Wires & solder

---

🔧 Block Diagram (Text)

Footstep Pressure
        ↓
Piezo Sensors
        ↓
Bridge Rectifier
        ↓
Capacitor
        ↓
Battery
        ↓
Arduino UNO
   ↓          ↓
LCD       LED / Load

---

🔌 Circuit Connections

Piezo to Arduino

• Piezo output → Bridge Rectifier

• Rectifier + → Capacitor +

• Capacitor − → GND

• Voltage divider → A0 (Arduino)

LCD

• VCC → 5V

• GND → GND

• SDA → A4

• SCL → A5

LED

• Anode → D8 (via 220Ω)

• Cathode → GND

---

🧠 Arduino Code (Working Code)

#include <Wire.h>
#include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h>

LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2);

int piezoPin = A0;
int ledPin = 8;
int stepCount = 0;

void setup() {
  pinMode(ledPin, OUTPUT);
  lcd.begin();
  lcd.backlight();
  lcd.setCursor(0,0);
  lcd.print("Footstep Power");
}

void loop() {
  int sensorValue = analogRead(piezoPin);
  float voltage = sensorValue * (5.0 / 1023.0);

  if (voltage > 2.0) {   // Footstep detected
    stepCount++;
    digitalWrite(ledPin, HIGH);
    delay(100);
    digitalWrite(ledPin, LOW);
  }

  lcd.setCursor(0,1);
  lcd.print("Steps:");
  lcd.print(stepCount);
  lcd.print(" V:");
  lcd.print(voltage);

  delay(200);
}

---

🧱 Mechanical Setup (Very Important)

• Piezo sensors placed under a flexible tile

• Rubber sheet on top

• Foam layer below sensors

• Wooden base at bottom

This improves:
✅ Power output
✅ Sensor life
✅ Sensitivity

---

📊 Output Results

• 1 step ≈ 2–8V (momentary)

• 100 steps → LED ON

• 500+ steps → small battery charging

• LCD shows:

  • Step count

  • Generated voltage

  •