MiniKers is a fleet of interaction-powered environment automation devices that harnesses energy from user interactions, achieving self-sustaining automatic operations that could last for long periods of time without human intervention (e.g., exchanging batteries). MiniKers system opens opportunities for turning user interactions into power sources for research in ubiquitous computing, IoT, and cyber-physical systems.
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We designed a circuit to accomodate the manual and automatic operations of everyday objects. The circuit features a discharging and a charging mode to support the motor being used as either an actuator or a generator. It has a rechargeable supercapacitor and a Lithium-ion Polymer (Li-Po) battery.
