Title: Spectrum sensing with energy harvesting from vibrations

Authors: Majed Abdouli

Addresses: College of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Jeddah, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: In cognitive radio (CR) networks, efficient and reliable spectrum sensing is essential for opportunistic spectrum access. However, energy consumption remains a critical limitation, particularly in environments where power sources are constrained. This paper investigates a novel spectrum sensing framework where the primary source is powered via energy harvesting from ambient vibrations. The harvested energy is used to transmit a signal to the primary user (PU), which then performs spectrum sensing using an energy detection technique. We develop an analytical model to capture the behaviour of the vibration-powered primary transmitter and its impact on the received signal's energy characteristics at the PU. The proposed system combines two key technologies energy harvesting and cognitive sensing and presents a sustainable, low-power sensing mechanism suitable for remote or infrastructure-less deployments. Simulation results validate the theoretical findings, demonstrating how the energy availability, determined by the vibration profile, affects the detection probability.

Keywords: spectrum sensing; energy harvesting from vibrations; Rayleigh channels; Nakagami channels.

DOI: 10.1504/IJAHUC.2026.152538

International Journal of Ad Hoc and Ubiquitous Computing, 2026 Vol.51 No.3, pp.151 - 158

Received: 17 May 2025
Accepted: 01 Sep 2025
Published online: 26 Mar 2026 *

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