Energy storage

Typical storage for an IoT sensor will be a battery or supercapacitor. When considering the architecture for sensor power, one must consider several aspects:

• Volume allowance for a power subsystem. Will a battery even fit?
• The battery energy capacity.
• Accessibility. If the unit is embedded in concrete, limited forms of energy regeneration can be used, and the difficulty of replacing batteries can be costly.
• Weight. Is the unit intended to fly as a drone, or float on water?
• How often will the battery be recharged?
• Is the renewable form of energy constantly available, or intermittent, as in solar?
• The battery power characteristics. How the battery's energy will vary over time as it's discharged.
• Is the sensor in a thermally constrained environment that can affect battery life and reliability?
• Does the battery have a profile that guarantees minimum current availability?