Methods for producing security and tracking systems including energy harvesting components for providing autonomous electrical power

A method for integrating an energy harvesting system in a self-powered sensor device, comprising:

• arranging an energy harvesting element in a body structure;
• arranging a sensor device in the body structure, the sensor device being powered by electrical energy generated by the energy harvesting element and configured to generate an output signal according to a sensed parameter measured by the sensor device;
• electrically connecting the sensor device and the energy harvesting element such that the sensor device and the energy harvesting element are in electrical communication;
• and
• arranging an energy transmissive layer over the energy harvesting element on a surface of the body structure, the energy transmissive layer having a body-facing side facing the surface of the body structure, and an energy-incident side opposite the body-facing side;
• the energy-incident side presenting a consistent opaque appearance when viewed from substantially any aspect;
• and
• the energy transmissive layer passing 50% or more of light energy impinging on the energy transmissive layer through the energy transmissive layer to activate the energy harvesting element.