Mao Xinhui, a PhD student from the School of Mechanical Engineering, won the Best Paper Award and Excellent Oral Presentation Award at the 7th International Conference on Vibration and Energy Harvesting Applications (VEH 2026), held in Guangzhou from July 3-6, 2026.

His winning paper presents a self-powered system for smart manhole cover monitoring. The system uses a novel electromagnetic harvester with a helical clutch and flywheel to convert low-frequency vehicle-induced vibrations into high-frequency rotational energy for electricity generation.

The compact harvester (Φ7 cm × 3 cm) achieves a peak power density of 41.6 mW/cm³. It can charge a 15 mAh battery by 30% in 230 seconds and power a wireless sensor for about one hour. A 60-day field test confirmed its reliability in real-world conditions.

The research, published in the International Journal of Mechanical Sciences (IF: 11.4), was led by Professor Tao Kai. Mao Xinhui and Master's students Zhang Chentao and Zhang Jiyuan are co-first authors.

This technology offers a promising pathway toward energy-autonomous infrastructure monitoring for smart cities.