Domino-Effect Ambient RF Energy Harvester: A Pulse-Based Approach for Survival-Grade Power

This work introduces a novel multi-band ambient RF energy harvesting system intended for survival-grade and emergency applications. Unlike conventional rectennas that produce only microwatts, sufficient only for tiny sensors, this design employs threshold-based pulse accumulation and a domino-style resonant coil cascade to transform weak ambient RF into usable bursts of energy. The harvested energy is managed through a dual-path feedback loop, where one path sustains circuit operation and the other charges a supercapacitor bank, enabling regulated 5 V USB output or optional 10–20 V bursts. While not a replacement for traditional power sources, this system offers a unique pathway for providing emergency energy in disaster zones, off-grid survival situations, and ultra-low-power wearables.