Design of an Electromagnetic Flywheel-Based Energy Harvester with a Battery Management System (BMS) for the Blind and Visually Impaired IoT-Enabled Assistive Devices

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) has greatly expanded the capabilities of assistive devices for blind and visually impaired people (BVIP). However, the increased power consumption associated with these components can shorten battery life and compromise reliability. To address this, the paper proposes a design that combines an electromagnetic flywheel energy harvester and a specialized battery management system (BMS). Initially, load profiling was performed to assess the energy consumption of various assistive devices, identifying the power demands of their components. An electromagnetic flywheel that generates energy when the pedal is rotated, simultaneously notifying the user through tactile feedback that the device is charging. The system includes a voice-based interface to inform users of battery percentage and device temperature. Additionally, wireless communication via the SIM800L GPRS and NEO-6M GPS modules provides real-time updates on battery status and the user's location. By improving energy efficiency and offering real-time monitoring, the proposed prototype enhances assistive devices' reliability, which ensures secure and dependable mobility for BVIP.