[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”RGBA(255,255,255,0)” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.24.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.24.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
IoT is facilitating a smarter and more connected world\u2014so how do we enable IoT devices to reach their full potential?<\/span><\/p>\n Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are tiny electric devices that feature a microprocessor to process sensor data and a radio to send the data to the cloud in real-time. In doing so, these ambient IoT sensors provide real-time monitoring and management of remote assets, resources, and environment to facilitate timely automated decision-making, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.<\/span><\/p>\n Billions of easy-to-deploy and low-cost IoT sensors have been implemented in factories, warehouses, retail, supply chains, healthcare, agriculture, buildings, homes, vehicles, etc. IoT market experts predict that the smart sensors industry contains 10s of billions of devices and is growing fast. A high-level<\/span> summary of some of the data can be found here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n For such a booming industry, it\u2019s hard to believe IoT could actually be <\/span>held back<\/span><\/i> by technology. But that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s happening. The IoT industry is being held back by batteries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yes, the tiny little bundles of chemicals that provide the small (but not zero) energy needed to perform the critical functions of sensing, computation, and communication. Batteries eventually die and must be replaced. The cost of replacing batteries is typically many times that of the IoT devices. These batteries must subsequently be disposed of and recycled, exacerbating the problem of keeping spent batteries and their toxic chemicals away from landfills and eventually polluting our environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n So which technologies will unshackle IoT devices from battery reliance?<\/span><\/p>\n Ambient Energy harvesting, the ability to extract energy from the environment, has been presented as a solution to the reliance of IoT devices on batteries. With \u201cambient IoT\u201d technology, the battery life of the IoT sensors could be extended, and IoT sensors that have no batteries could be realized. Even though ambient energy harvesting can augment a battery and increase its applicable life or reduce its size, the ultimate goal is to build completely batteryless devices.\u00a0 With this in mind, it is instructive to look at some of the leading technology options and understand what\u2019s feasible. Technology options discussed most frequently include energy harvested through the following mechanisms:<\/span><\/p>\n Let’s discuss their suitability for IoT applications.<\/span><\/p>\n Limits on the energy available and the cost and efficiency of converting it into electricity mean that harvesting human motion and\u00a0 tiny vibrations through piezoelectricity or other methods and thermal gradients is only appropriate for a few niche use cases. For example, batteryless wireless light switches that harvest mechanical energy from switch activation, or batteryless wrist watches that harvested energy from human movement. For an in-depth technical analysis, refer to this <\/span>excellent article on vibrational energy harvesters<\/span><\/a>. For those interested in a similar study of thermal energy harvesting, refer to <\/span>the following article<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Solar provided roughly 3.4% of the total electric supply in the US in 2022 and is the fastest-growing renewable energy source. We are familiar with calculators, computer keyboards, or TV remotes powered by ambient lighting. Ambient light is undoubtedly attractive in several consumer applications \u2013 see the excellent <\/span>article from Jonna Stern in the Wall Street <\/span><\/a>Journal.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the applicability of harvesting ambient lighting for IoT applications is limited, given that the power density in ambient light is roughly three orders of magnitude (or 1000 times less) lower than solar. Therefore, to meet the energy requirements of most IoT sensors, a large exposed surface area is needed. Furthermore, IoT sensors are often deployed in environments with minimal ambient lighting or where the surface of the IoT sensors is hidden. This implies that while ambient light harvesting can augment or reduce the size of the batteries, it is not feasible to depend on it as the exclusive source of energy and eliminate the batteries.<\/span><\/p>\n RF energy due to cellular, WiFi, and Bluetooth is ubiquitous, and it is tempting to believe it can be harvested to power IoT sensors. After all, electronics and antennas to transmit and receive RF signals are already present. However, a back-of-the-envelope calculation (or the use of a <\/span>path loss calculator<\/span><\/a><\/span>) illustrates that the energy that can be harvested from RF communication signals is insufficient to power even the most basic IoT sensors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Even though the energy consumption of IoT devices has decreased significantly in recent years, there is simply not enough \u201cambient\u201d energy to power IoT sensors except for a limited set of applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The solution is to consider deploying dedicated energy sources that the IoT devices can harvest.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RF energy transmitters and harvesters (aka receivers) are particularly attractive, given\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Companies like <\/span>Energous<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Atmosic<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Wiliot<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Aeterlink<\/span><\/a><\/span>, <\/span>Ossia<\/span><\/a><\/span>, and others are doing just that. They are building RF energy transmitters and IoT sensors that operate without batteries. The industry leaders have come together to develop an <\/span>RF wireless charging industry standard<\/span><\/a><\/span>. Recently, a certification program has been instituted to provide the required multi-vendor interoperability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n IoT devices are facilitating a smarter and more connected world\u2014so if we can use AirFuel RF wireless power to enable IoT use-cases to reach their full potential, we also unlock our own.<\/span><\/p>\n To get started with AirFuel <\/span>RF for IoT products, <\/span>learn more about AirFuel RF<\/span><\/a><\/span> or <\/span>become a member<\/span><\/a><\/span> of AirFuel Alliance. Members get access to the world\u2019s leading wireless charging standards and development tools so they can accelerate to market with wireless power-enabled products. Have questions? <\/span>Contact us<\/span><\/a><\/span> to talk with an expert.<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" IoT is facilitating a smarter and more connected world\u2014so how do we enable IoT devices to reach their full potential? Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are tiny electric devices that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":7970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[62],"tags":[49,58,52],"class_list":["post-7965","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-iot","tag-rf","tag-wireless-power"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7965","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7965"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7965\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7965"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7965"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/airfuel.org\/zh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7965"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}To Move Forward, IoT Needs to Move On From the Battery<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Many Methods of Ambient IoT Energy Harvesting<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Motion & Vibration Harvesting<\/b><\/h3>\n
Solar & Ambient Light<\/b><\/h3>\n
Ambient RF Harvesting<\/b><\/h3>\n
AirFuel RF<\/b><\/h3>\n
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AirFu<\/b>el RF for Ambient IoT<\/b><\/h2>\n