Abstract
Autonomous systems source energy from waste heat which are generated by home appliances and
industrial machineries and mitigate the effect of global warming which threatens the environment as a
result of fossil fuel energy based sources that release undesirable carbon-monoxide into the
atmosphere. This paper described current waste heat recovery practices in different applications, and
an innovative approach to convert heat energy into usable forms. This can significantly contribute
towards sustainable energy development and meet the growing need for power in small scale
applications due to its relative advantages over other sources of energy generation. It will help in
optimizing existing waste recovery technologies and developing new heat recovery technologies
and gives an insight into various ways by which waste heat can be exploited to meet the growing
energy demand and increasing interest in space exploration, satellite activities, structural health
monitoring and terrestrial monitoring in harsh and inaccessible environments place a high demand for
energy sources for autonomous systems.