October 5, 2024

A greener internet of things with no wires attached

4 min read

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Emerging sorts of skinny-film system systems that rely on alternative semiconductor materials, these as printable organics, nanocarbon allotropes and metallic oxides, could lead to a additional economically and environmentally sustainable world-wide-web of things (IoT), a KAUST-led international team suggests.

Wirelessly powered electronics produced by KAUST scientists could support to make net of matters technological innovation far more environmentally pleasant. Image credit rating: 2022 KAUST / Heno Hwang

The IoT is established to majorly influence each day life and several industries. It connects and facilitates information trade concerning a multitude of good objects of several styles and sizes — these types of as remote-managed house protection techniques, self-driving cars and trucks equipped with sensors that detect road blocks on the road, and temperature-controlled manufacturing unit devices — more than the world-wide-web and other sensing and communications networks.

This burgeoning hypernetwork is projected to achieve trillions of gadgets by the following decade, boosting the variety of sensor nodes deployed in its platforms.

Present strategies utilized to electric power sensor nodes count on battery technologies, but batteries require frequent substitution, which is costly and environmentally unsafe over time. Also, the latest world wide creation of lithium for battery elements may possibly not keep up with the rising power demand from customers from the swelling range of sensors.

Wirelessly powered sensor nodes could support obtain a sustainable IoT by drawing electrical power from the environment working with so-termed electricity harvesters, these as photovoltaic cells and radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesters, among the other technologies. Massive-spot electronics could be vital in enabling these electricity sources.

KAUST alumni Kalaivanan Loganathan, with KAUST Professor of Material Science and Engineering Thomas Anthopoulos and researchers in the KAUST Solar Middle, assessed the viability of numerous significant-region electronic systems and their probable to produce ecofriendly, wirelessly powered IoT sensors.

Massive-location electronics have recently emerged as an pleasing different to conventional silicon-centered systems thanks to sizeable progress in solution-based processing, which has made gadgets and circuits easier to print on versatile, huge-place substrates. They can be made at small temperatures and on biodegradable substrates these as paper, which tends to make them more ecofriendly than their silicon-centered counterparts.

Around the yrs, Anthopoulos’ workforce has produced a range of RF digital parts, which includes metallic-oxide and natural and organic polymer-dependent semiconductor gadgets recognised as Schottky diodes. “These units are vital parts in wi-fi electrical power harvesters and ultimately dictate the effectiveness and price of the sensor nodes,” Loganathan said.

Crucial contributions from the KAUST team include scalable procedures for production RF diodes to harvest electrical power reaching the 5G/6G frequency selection. “Such technologies present the desired setting up blocks toward a a lot more sustainable way to electric power the billions of sensor nodes in the in close proximity to foreseeable future,” Anthopoulos claimed.

The workforce is investigating the monolithic integration of these lower-electrical power equipment with antenna and sensors to showcase their real opportunity, Loganathan added.

Resource: KAUST




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Supply url The Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way we interact with the world around us. With the rapid development of technology and the increased demand for connected devices, IoT has become a prominent feature in our lives. However, its reliance on wired networks presents a major challenge as these networks are inefficient, expensive, and often unreliable.

A greener internet of things with no wires attached could be an effective solution to this problem. Wireless systems, which allow for the transmission of data without the use of physical cables, are becoming increasingly popular in a range of industrial and commercial applications. This development is set to significantly reduce the environmental impact of IoT in the future.

Wireless systems can be designed to consume less energy than traditionally wired networks. This helps to cut down on electricity costs as well as greenhouse gas emissions. Wireless networks are also more reliable than wired networks, as they are not as prone to disruptions caused by physical interference or power outages.

In addition to providing a greener alternative to wired networks, no wires attached IoT systems can offer a range of other benefits. For instance, they could enable faster and more secure communication among connected devices. They can also provide greater flexibility and scalability, as they can be easily employed in a variety of configurations without the need for complicated installation processes.

Finally, by eliminating the need for physical wires, no wires attached IoT systems can help to reduce the physical clutter of a messy wiring installation. This could provide a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing environment in buildings and homes where IoT is deployed.

Overall, wireless internet of things systems offer a greener and more cost-efficient alternative to traditional wired networks. Their capability to reduce the environmental impact of IoT, as well as their wide range of other advantages, make them a compelling option for businesses and consumers alike.