Intelligent road driven by self-powered wireless sensors networks based on triboelectric nanogenerators: principles, applications, and perspectives

Intelligent road (IR), as the neural hub of the intelligent transportation system (ITS), is driven by the core force of “long-range – precise perception capabilities.” Triboelectric Nanogenerators (TENGs), with their self-powered and high-precision sensing functions, overcome the technical bottleneck of traditional external power supply systems that hinder the large-scale deployment of road monitoring sensors due to their short lifespan. TENGs, through the deep integration of wireless communication, artificial intelligence, and big data technologies, lead the reshaping of road infrastructure into a smart transportation carrier that integrates dynamic perception, autonomous decision-making, and green interactive functions. This review provides a comprehensive clarification of IR’ definition and functions, while demonstrating the critical role of self-powered wireless sensing in the system. It systematically reviews the research progress of TENG-based self-powered wireless sensor networks (TENG-SP-WSNs) in the field of road infrastructure, with particular emphasis on operational mechanisms, practical application scenarios, current technical limitations, and corresponding optimization strategies and further discusses the perspectives and challenges of TENGs in promoting the evolution of road towards energy self-sufficiency, intelligent sensing and dynamic response.