Systems and methods for generating, storing and transmitting electricity from vehicular traffic

An energy harvesting system, comprising:

• an actuator comprising a translationally displaceable surface, the translationally displaceable surface being configured to transition from a first position to a second position upon contact by a movable unit;
• a vertical rack in contact with the actuator, and configured to be translationally displaced in response to translational displacement of the actuator;
• a pinion configured to engage with the vertical rack and to rotate in response to translational displacement of the vertical rack;
• a main shaft coupled to the pinion and configured to rotate with rotation of the pinion;
• and
• a flywheel and a generator coupled to the main shaft, wherein rotation of the main shaft generates mechanical energy stored by the flywheel, and wherein the generator is configured to generate electrical energy from the mechanical energy stored by the flywheel.

A method for harvesting energy, comprising:

• (a) providing at each of a plurality of locations on a surface, including a first location and a second location, a modular housing, comprising:
• (i) an actuator configured to transition from a first position to a second position upon contact by a movable unit exerting a force on the surface;
• (ii) a linear to rotational conversion component for converting linear motion input from the actuator into a rotational motion output, wherein the linear to rotational conversion component is mechanically coupled to the actuator;
• (iii) a mechanical energy storage component mechanically coupled to the linear to rotational conversion component;
• (iv) a generator coupled to the mechanical energy storage component;
• and (v) electric circuitry electrically coupled to the generator;
• (b) at the first location and the second location, receiving a linear motion input from the movable unit exerting the force on the surface;
• (c) converting each linear motion input into respective rotational motion outputs via the respective linear to rotational conversion components in the first and second locations;
• (d) storing each of the respective rotational motion outputs as mechanical energy in the respective mechanical energy storage components in the first and second locations;
• (e) releasing the mechanical energy to the respective generators in the first and second locations, thereby generating respective power outputs at the first and second locations on the surface;
• and
• (f) amalgamating the respective power outputs from the first and second locations, via the respective electric circuitry at the first and second locations, to produce an amalgamated power output and delivering the power output for storage in a power storage component or for powering one or more electronic devices.