Submitted by ELIZABETH HARUNA KAZAMA null (bethkazama@hotmail.com) on 2016-04-05T19:43:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Elizabeth_Haruna_Kazama.pdf: 2591001 bytes, checksum: b6af06ca83c4e70605f88b2a36377803 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Paula Grisoto (grisotoana@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-04-06T19:15:35Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 kazama_eh_me_jabo.pdf: 2591001 bytes, checksum: b6af06ca83c4e70605f88b2a36377803 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-06T19:15:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 kazama_eh_me_jabo.pdf: 2591001 bytes, checksum: b6af06ca83c4e70605f88b2a36377803 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / O preço do algodão é determinado pela qualidade da fibra, que pode ser danificada no momento da colheita, gerando perdas qualitativas, além das perdas quantitativas de pluma não colhida, resultando em perda de produtividade. Neste trabalho foram realizados dois estudos que tiveram como objetivos: modelar a distribuição espacial e o mapeamento das perdas na colheita mecanizada do algodão em duas velocidades de colheita (5 km h-1 e 7 km h-1), (Experimento 1), e avaliar as perdas quali-quantitativas da fibra em cinco velocidades de colheita, 5, 6, 7, 8 e 9 km h -1 (Experimento 2). Os experimentos foram realizados em dois municípios do estado do Mato Grosso, Brasil, sendo um sob delineamento de malha regular, demarcados 64 pontos amostrais com 5,25 ha cada, e outro sob delineamento de blocos inteiramente casualizados, utilizando a estatística clássica, sendo cinco velocidades de colheita e quatro repetições. No primeiro experimento, a maior extensão das perdas no terço inferior da planta ocorre no sentido das linhas de semeadura e deslocamento da colhedora e, além disso, as perdas na planta possuem relação com a população de plantas. As perdas possuem dependência espacial, demonstrando que possui relação com a planta. No segundo experimento, as perdas no solo, na planta e a qualidade da fibra não foram afetadas pelas velocidades analisadas. / The price of the cotton is determined by the quality of the fiber, which can be damaged at time of harvest, generating qualitative loss, in addition to feather quantitative losses, resulting loss of productivity. This work carried out two studies to the following objectives: to model the spatial distribution and the losses mapping in mechanized cotton harvesting in two harvest speed (5 km h-1 and 7 km h-1), (Experiment 1), and evaluating the quantitative and qualitative losses of five-speed fiber harvesting, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 km h-1 (Experiment 2). The experiments were conducted in two cities in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, one under regular mesh design, marked 64 sample points, with 5.25 ha, in each field, the other was randomized in complete block, using classical statistics, with five-speed harvesting and four replications. In the first experiment, the largest extent of the losses in the lower third of the plant occurs in the direction of the planting lines and displacement of the harvester in addition, losses in the plant are related to the population of plants. Cotton losses have spatial dependence demonstrating that It has relation with the the plant. In the second experiment, the losses in soil, plant and fiber quality were not affected by the analyzed speeds.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:30:07Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 alves_pj_me_jabo.pdf: 304442 bytes, checksum: 3350306ffa2a89296e0138ab12f665ef (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A produção de silagem é atividade importante para a alimentação do rebanho brasileiro e, neste aspecto, o planejamento da produção se torna indispensável para se obter uma maior produtividade. A escolha do híbrido adequado e a maneira como será feita a semeadura influencia a produção final, interferindo quantitativa e qualitativamente no desenvolvimento da cultura. A qualidade na colheita de culturas destinadas à silagem, que envolve o tamanho de fragmentos e altura de corte, é fundamental para que as condições da silagem sejam atendidas. O presente estudo foi conduzido em área experimental do Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA UNESP/Jaboticabal) da Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Câmpus de Jaboticabal, com o objetivo de avaliar: o desempenho de uma semeadora-adubadora em Latossolo sob preparo convencional; as características do material colhido e as perdas na colheita de forragem; a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração, densidade e umidade do solo, em um sistema de produção de milho para silagem. No desempenho da semeadora-adubadora, a maior velocidade proporcionou o menor consumo operacional de combustível e maior capacidade de campo. As características de desenvolvimento da cultura não foram alteradas pelas velocidades e somente a altura da planta diferiu em função dos híbridos utilizados. A densidade e a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração apresentaram valores elevados para solos mobilizados. Na colheita, o consumo de combustível foi superior quando empregada a maior rotação das facas de corte. A perda média na colheita de forragem foi de 2% da produtividade. / The silage production is an important activity for alimentation of the Brazilian herd. For higher productivity, planning is essential. The choice of hybrid and appropriate sowing change the final production. The quality at sowing affect qualitatively and quantitatively the culture development. The quality of the harvest of crops intended for silage, which involves the size of fragments and height of cut is critical to reach the silage requirements. This study was conducted in the experimental area of the Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA UNESP/Jaboticabal) of the Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Campus Jaboticabal. The objective of this study was to evaluate: the performance of a seeder-fertilizer in Oxisol under conventional tillage; the characteristics of the harvested matter and losses at forage harvest; the soil mechanical resistance to penetration, density and soil moisture in a production system of maize for silage. In the performance of the seeder-fertilizer, the higher speed provided the lowest fuel consumption and increased the operational field capacity. The development of the culture were not changed by the speed at seeding and only the plant height differed depending on the hybrid used. The density and soil mechanical resistance to penetration showed high values for soil mobilized. At harvest, the fuel consumption was higher than that employed the largest rotation of the cutting knives. The average loss at harvest of forage was 2% in productivity.

Submitted by GABRIEL ALBUQUERQUE DE LYRA null (gabriel.lyra@hotmail.com) on 2016-12-19T19:21:33Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Gabriel Lyra.pdf: 1897866 bytes, checksum: 8ba973ed81d889444a889d0064b3f3ed (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Felipe Augusto Arakaki (arakaki@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-12-21T11:07:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lyra_ga_dr_bot.pdf: 1897866 bytes, checksum: 8ba973ed81d889444a889d0064b3f3ed (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-12-21T11:07:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lyra_ga_dr_bot.pdf: 1897866 bytes, checksum: 8ba973ed81d889444a889d0064b3f3ed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-10-14 / Como grande pilar de sustentação econômica, a agricultura brasileira mantém-se em constante desenvolvimento e adaptação para atender as demandas de mercado, exigindo dos produtores rurais atualização de seus processos produtivos. Uma das formas mais comuns de incrementar a produção agrícola é aumentar a população de plantas na semeadura, visando acréscimo em produtividade. Contudo, na cultura do algodão a semeadura com espaçamento estreito entre fileiras tem como maior finalidade encurtar o ciclo produtivo, possibilitando o menor uso de defensivos agrícolas, principalmente de inseticidas e fungicidas, tendo em vista o grande número de aplicações. Esta prática foi implementada inicialmente nos Estados Unidos nos anos 70 e vem sendo adotada desde então em outros países, mas a grande limitação desse processo está na dificuldade da colheita, tornando a operação menos eficiente, principalmente no que diz respeito as perdas, sem deixar de lado a qualidade da fibra colhida. Visando minimizar estas perdas e manter as qualidades do algodão adensado, foi proposto nesse trabalho avaliar o desempenho de uma colhedora e a qualidade da fibra do algodão cultivado em espaçamentos tradicional simples e duplo combinado. A semeadura com utilização de espaçamentos duplos combinados entre fileiras permite aumentar a população de plantas sem mudar drasticamente o sistema operacional de colheita já consolidado, uma vez que a duas fileiras com menor espaçamento podem ser colhidas com a mesma máquina utilizada para o espaçamento tradicional de semeadura, por isso durante a condução do experimento foi realizada a implantação de quatro tipos de espaçamento: fileiras duplas espaçadas em 15x75 cm, 18x72 cm, 20x70 cm e o tradicional de 90 cm entre as fileiras de cultivo. Nos espaçamentos duplos combinados a densidade de semeadura foi dobro em relação a semeadura do espaçamento simples convencional. Os parâmetros avaliados foram: população de plantas ao fim do ciclo, número de capulhos por planta, produtividade, qualidade da fibra colhida, consumo de combustível da colhedora e perdas pós-colheita. As análises das características e qualidade da fibra foram realizadas em Laboratório de Classificação de Fibras por meio do sistema HVI (High Volume Instrument). Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos a análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste Tukey a 5% de significância. Os resultados mostraram que o número de capulhos por planta é significativamente maior quando o algodão é cultivado em espaçamento simples convencional, média de 11,2 capulhos por planta, enquanto nos espaçamentos duplos combinados a média foi de 7,5 capulhos por planta, contudo, por conta da maior densidade populacional não houveram diferenças significativas entre as produtividades. O consumo de combustível da colhedora não foi afetado pela densidade populacional, ou pelos tipos de espaçamentos duplos combinados. As perdas pós-colheita foram significativamente maior no algodão cultivado com espaçamento duplo combinado de 20x70 cm, média superior a 18%, enquanto nos demais espaçamentos duplos combinados as perdas ficaram com médias próximas a 10%, e média de 12,4% no espaçamento simples convencional. De maneira geral a qualidade da fibra do algodão colhido não apresentou diferenças entre os espaçamentos de cultivo simples convencional e duplo combinado. / Brazilian agriculture is in constant development and adaptation to meet market demands, requiring rural producers to update their production processes. One of the most common ways of increasing agricultural production is to increase the population of plants at sowing, aiming to expand productivity. However, in the cotton crop, sowing with narrow spacing between rows has as main purpose to shorten the productive cycle, making it possible to use less pesticides, mainly insecticides and fungicides, in view of the large number of applications. This practice was initially implemented in the United States in the 1970s and has since been adopted in other countries, but the major limitation of this process lies in the difficulty of harvesting, making the operation less efficient, especially with regard to losses, without leaving aside the quality of the harvested fiber. Aiming to minimize these losses and maintain the qualities of the higher density cotton, it was proposed in this study to evaluate the performance of a harvester and the quality of cotton fiber grown in traditional single and double combined spacings. Sowing with the use of double combined spacings between rows allows to increase the population of plants without drastically changing the harvesting system already consolidated, since the two rows with smaller spacing can be harvested with the same machine used for the traditional seeding spacing, so during the conduction of the experiment was performed the implantation of four types of spacing: double rows spaced in 15x75 cm, 18x72 cm, 20x70 cm and the traditional one of 90 cm between the rows of cultivation. In the combined double spacings the sowing density was double in relation to conventional simple spacing. The parameters evaluated were: Population of plants at the end of the cycle, number of balls per plant, productivity, quality of harvested fiber, harvester fuel consumption and post-harvest losses. The analysis of fiber characteristics and quality was carried out in Laboratory of Fiber Classification through the HVI (High Volume Instrument) system. The results were submitted to analysis of variance and the means were compared by the Tukey test at 5% of significance. The results showed that the number of balls per plant is significantly higher when the cotton is cultivated in conventional single spacing, with an average of 11.2 balls per plant, while in the combined double spacings the average was 7.5 balls per plant. However, due to the higher population density there were no significant differences between the productivities. The fuel consumption of the harvester was not affected by the population density or by the combined double spacing types. Postharvest losses were significantly higher in cotton grown with combined double spacing of 20x70 cm, average higher than 18%, while in the other combined double spacings the losses were with averages close to 10%, And a mean of 12.4% in conventional single spacing. In general, the quality of the harvested cotton fiber did not show differences between conventional and double combined single crop spacings.

Orientador: Carlos Eduardo Angeli Furlani / Banca: Rouverson Pereira da Silva / Banca: Wilson José Oliveira de Souza / Resumo: A produção de silagem é atividade importante para a alimentação do rebanho brasileiro e, neste aspecto, o planejamento da produção se torna indispensável para se obter uma maior produtividade. A escolha do híbrido adequado e a maneira como será feita a semeadura influencia a produção final, interferindo quantitativa e qualitativamente no desenvolvimento da cultura. A qualidade na colheita de culturas destinadas à silagem, que envolve o tamanho de fragmentos e altura de corte, é fundamental para que as condições da silagem sejam atendidas. O presente estudo foi conduzido em área experimental do Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA UNESP/Jaboticabal) da Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Câmpus de Jaboticabal, com o objetivo de avaliar: o desempenho de uma semeadora-adubadora em Latossolo sob preparo convencional; as características do material colhido e as perdas na colheita de forragem; a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração, densidade e umidade do solo, em um sistema de produção de milho para silagem. No desempenho da semeadora-adubadora, a maior velocidade proporcionou o menor consumo operacional de combustível e maior capacidade de campo. As características de desenvolvimento da cultura não foram alteradas pelas velocidades e somente a altura da planta diferiu em função dos híbridos utilizados. A densidade e a resistência mecânica do solo à penetração apresentaram valores elevados para solos mobilizados. Na colheita, o consumo de combustível foi superior quando empregada a maior rotação das facas de corte. A perda média na colheita de forragem foi de 2% da produtividade. / Abstract: The silage production is an important activity for alimentation of the Brazilian herd. For higher productivity, planning is essential. The choice of hybrid and appropriate sowing change the final production. The quality at sowing affect qualitatively and quantitatively the culture development. The quality of the harvest of crops intended for silage, which involves the size of fragments and height of cut is critical to reach the silage requirements. This study was conducted in the experimental area of the Laboratório de Máquinas e Mecanização Agrícola (LAMMA UNESP/Jaboticabal) of the Universidade Estadual Paulista "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Campus Jaboticabal. The objective of this study was to evaluate: the performance of a seeder-fertilizer in Oxisol under conventional tillage; the characteristics of the harvested matter and losses at forage harvest; the soil mechanical resistance to penetration, density and soil moisture in a production system of maize for silage. In the performance of the seeder-fertilizer, the higher speed provided the lowest fuel consumption and increased the operational field capacity. The development of the culture were not changed by the speed at seeding and only the plant height differed depending on the hybrid used. The density and soil mechanical resistance to penetration showed high values for soil mobilized. At harvest, the fuel consumption was higher than that employed the largest rotation of the cutting knives. The average loss at harvest of forage was 2% in productivity. / Mestre

Agriculture is the basic of the life cycle activities mankind and significant in a way work landscape. Picking threshing-machine equipment GPS to us offer high accurate data. This data with then further working odd exploited with for resulting fertilization basic nutriment. At the same time we shall completely worked with information on economy company. Record is then better economies odd largely smaller negative impact on environment.

Combine harvesters are used to gather plants from the field and separate them into the components of value, the grain and the straw. The optimal utilization of existing combine potential is an inevitable task to maximize harvest efficiency and hence to maximize profit. The only way to optimize the threshing and separation processes during harvest is to adjust the combine settings to existing conditions. Operating permanently at optimal harvest efficiency can only be achieved by an automatic control system. However, for reasons of transparency and due to lack of sensors, the approach in this thesis is a combined development of an interactive and an automatic control system for combine process optimization. The optimization of combine processes is a multi-dimensional and multi-objective optimization problem. The objectives of optimization are the harvest quality parameters. The decision variables, the parameters that can be modified, are the combine settings. Analytical optimization methods require the existence of a model that provides function values in dependence of defined input parameters. A comprehensive quantitative model for the input-output-behavior of the combine does not exist. Alternative optimization methods that handle multi-dimensional and multi-objective optimization problems can be found in the domain of Artificial Intelligence. In this work, knowledge acquisition was performed in order to obtain expert knowledge on combine process optimization. The result is a knowledge base with six adjustment matrices for different crop and combine types. The adjustment matrices contain problem oriented setting adjustment recommendations in order to solve single issues with quality parameters. A control algorithm has been developed that is also capable of solving multiple issues at the same time, utilizing the acquired expert knowledge. The basic principle to solve the given multi-objective optimization problem is a transformation into one-dimensional single-objective optimization problems which are solved iteratively. Several methods have been developed that are applied sequentially. In simulation, the average improvement from initial settings to optimized settings, achieved by the control algorithm, is between 34.5 % and 67.6 %. This demonstrates the good performance of the control algorithm.

Harvester operators are handling large amounts of information while processing trees. Primarily by looking at the close environment, the trees, and the harvesting head, but also through the bucking display placed in front of the operator. Head-mounted displays have been under development since the 1960s but have yet to find any major applications where they excel outside military aircrafts despite numerous tries. This master thesis aims at evaluating the usability for head-mounted displays (HMDs) and augmented reality (AR) technology within forestry, by answering the research question: Are HMDs suited for displaying information in harvesters? What information is suitable to display in HMDs and how should it be displayed for best effect? A literature review about the current state of the art of HMDs and AR has been compiled which can be read independently. Qualitative user studies have been performed to map the current interactions of harvester operators by observation and interviews in the field. Interviews have been made with subject matter experts in relating fields. The insights gathered from the user studies led to three interface designs for bucking which were designed, prototyped and tested for usability in a harvester simulator. Ideas for other more immersive uses of the HMD were also designed. For bucking is assortment and species the most important information for the operators, contrary to how it is displayed today, where diameter and fed length is presented as the most significant information. Near machine navigation is a problem area which may be solved with AR. Operators participating in the test were positive towards the technology after testing. Our conclusion is that HMDs shows enough promise and performance to be evaluated further by tests in the field. Weight, brightness, and a non-occluding design are the most important properties for an HMD for harvesters. / Skördaroperatörer hanterar stora mängder information vid fällning och aptering. Främst genom att titta på omgivningen, träden och aggregatet men också via apteringsskärmen framför sig. Head-mounted Displays (HMDs) har varit under utveckling sedan 1960 talet men har hittat få tillämpningar utanför det militära flyget trots många studier. Detta examensarbete försöker utreda om HMDs och augmented reality (AR) är lämpliga tekniker för det mekaniserade skogsbruket genom att svara på frågorna: Är HMDs lämpliga för att visa information för skördaroperatörer? Vilken information skall då visas och hur ska den visas på bästa sätt? En litteraturstudie om HMDs och AR har genomförts och kan läsas fristående. Kvalitativa användarstudier har genomförts för att kartlägga skördaroperatörers arbete genom observationer och intervjuer. Intervjuer har även gjorts med experter inom närliggande områden. Från studierna har tre gränssnitt utvecklats och testats i en skördarsimulator. Idéer för AR gränssnitt har även de utformats. För aptering är sortiment och trädslag den viktigaste informationen att visas, i motsats till dagens gränssnitt där diameter och utmatad längd visas tydligast. Navigation i närheten av skördaren är ett problemområde som skulle kunna lösas med hjälp av AR. Operatörer i användartester har varit positiva till tekniken. Vår slutsats är att HMDs är tillräckligt lovande för fortsatta tester i fält för skördaroperatörer. Vikt, ljusstyrka och en design som inte skymmer sikten är de viktigaste faktorerna för en HMD för skördarbruk.

This paper summarizes and extends the modeling state of the art of magnetostrictive energy harvesters with a focus on the pick-up coil design. The harvester is a one-sided clamped galfenol unimorph loaded with two brass pieces each containing a permanent magnet to create a biased magnetic field. Measurements on different pick-up coils were conducted and compared with results from an analytic model. Resistance, mass and inductance were formulated and proved by measurements. Both the length for a constant number of turns and the number of turns for a constant coil length were also modeled and varied. The results confirm that the output voltage depends on the coil length for a constant number of turns and is higher for smaller coils. In contrast to a uniform magnetic field, the maximal output voltage is gained if the coil is placed not directly at but near the fixation. Two effects explain this behavior: Due to the permanent magnet next to the fixation, the magnetic force is higher and orientates the magnetic domains stronger. The clamping locally increases the stress and forces the magnetic domains to orientate, too. For that reason the material is stiffer and therefore the strain smaller. The tradeoff between a higher induced voltage in the coil and an increasing inductance and resistance for every additional turn are presented together with an experimental validation of the models. Based on the results guidelines are given to design an optimal coil which maximizes the output power for a given unimorph.

La récupération de l'énergie des vibrations est un concept relativement nouveau qui peut être utilisé dans l'alimentation des dispositifs embarqués de puissance à micro-échelle avec l'énergie des vibrations omniprésentes dans l’environnement. Cette thèse contribue à une étude générale des récupérateurs de l'énergie des vibrations (REV) employant des transducteurs électrostatiques. Un REV électrostatique typique se compose d'un transducteur capacitif, de l'électronique de conditionnement et d’un élément de stockage. Ce travail se concentre sur l'examen du circuit de conditionnement auto-synchrone proposé en 2006 par le MIT, qui combine la pompe de charge à base de diodes et le convertisseur DC-DC inductif de type de flyback qui est entraîné par le commutateur. Cette architecture est très prometteuse car elle élimine la commande de grille précise des transistors utilisés dans les architectures synchrones, tandis qu'un commutateur unique se met en marche rarement. Cette thèse propose une analyse théorique du circuit de conditionnement. Nous avons développé un algorithme qui par commutation appropriée de flyback implémente la stratégie de conversion d'énergie optimale en tenant compte des pertes liées à la commutation. En ajoutant une fonction de calibration, le système devient adaptatif pour les fluctuations de l'environnement. Cette étude a été validée par la modélisation comportementale.Une autre contribution consiste en la réalisation de l'algorithme proposé au niveau du circuit CMOS. Les difficultés majeures de conception étaient liées à l'exigence de haute tension et à la priorité de la conception faible puissance. Nous avons conçu un contrôleur du commutateur haute tension de faible puissance en utilisant la technologie AMS035HV. Sa consommation varie entre quelques centaines de nanowatts et quelques microwatts, en fonction de nombreux facteurs - paramètres de vibrations externes, niveaux de tension de la pompe de charge, la fréquence de la commutation de commutateur, la fréquence de la fonction de calibration, etc.Nous avons également réalisé en silicium, fabriqué et testé un commutateur à haute tension avec une nouvelle architecture de l'élévateur de tension de faible puissance. En montant sur des composants discrets de la pompe de charge et du circuit de retour et en utilisant l'interrupteur conçu, nous avons caractérisé le fonctionnement large bande haute-tension du prototype de transducteur MEMS fabriqué à côté de cette thèse à l'ESIEE Paris. Lorsque le capteur est excité par des vibrations stochastiques ayant un niveau d'accélération de 0,8 g rms distribué dans la bande 110-170 Hz, jusqu'à 0,75 µW de la puissance nette a été récupérée. / Vibration energy harvesting is a relatively new concept that can be used in powering micro-scale power embedded devices with the energy of vibrations omnipresent in the surrounding. This thesis contributes to a general study of vibration energy harvesters (VEHs) employing electrostatic transducers. A typical electrostatic VEH consists of a capacitive transducer, conditioning electronics and a storage element. This work is focused on investigations of the reported by MIT in 2006 auto-synchronous conditioning circuit, which combines the diode-based charge pump and the inductive flyback energy return driven by the switch. This architecture is very promising since it eliminates precise gate control of transistors employed in synchronous architectures, while a unique switch turns on rarely. This thesis addresses the theoretical analysis of the conditioning circuit. We developed an algorithm that by proper switching of the flyback allows the optimal energy conversion strategy taking into account the losses associated with the switching. By adding the calibration function, the system became adaptive to the fluctuations in the environment. This study was validated by the behavioral modeling. Another contribution consists in realization of the proposed algorithm on the circuit level. The major design difficulties were related to the high-voltage requirement and the low-power design priority. We designed a high-voltage analog controller of the switch using AMS035HV technology. Its power consumption varies between several hundred nanowatts and a few microwatts, depending on numerous factors - parameters of external vibrations, voltage levels of the charge pump, frequency of the flyback switching, frequency of calibration function, etc. We also implemented on silicon, fabricated and tested a high-voltage switch with a novel low power level-shifting driver. By mounting on discrete components the charge pump and flyback circuit and employing the proposed switch, we characterized the wideband high-voltage operation of the MEMS transducer prototype fabricated alongside this thesis in ESIEE Paris. When excited with stochastic vibrations having an acceleration level of 0.8 g rms distributed in the band 110-170 Hz, up to 0.75 $\mu$W of net electrical power has been harvested.

The balance of the supply of renewable energy sources with electricity demand will become increasingly difficult with further penetration of renewable energy sources. Traditionally, large stationary batteries have been used to store renewable energy in excess of electricity demand and dispatch the stored energy to meet future electricity demand. Cool thermal energy storage is a feasible renewable energy balancing solution that has economic and environmental advantages over utility scale stationary lead-acid batteries. Two technologies, ice harvesters and internal-melt ice-on-coil cool thermal energy storage, have the capability to store excess renewable energy and use the energy to displace electricity used for building cooling systems. When implemented by a utility, cool thermal energy storage can replace large utility scale batteries for renewable energy balancing in utility regions with high renewable energy penetration. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) region and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) are utility regions with large solar and wind resources, respectively, that can benefit from installation of cool thermal energy storage systems for renewable energy balancing. With proper scheduling of energy dispatched from cool thermal energy storage, these technologies can be effective in displacing peak power capacity for the region, in displacing traditional building cooling equipment, and in recovering renewable energy that would otherwise be curtailed. / Master of Science