Friday, September 20, 2013

Could "Ambient Backscatter" Provide Free Power?


(Courtesy University of Washington)
Researchers at the University of Washington say they have found a way to harness the energy in radio frequency signals in the air to power devices that also use that energy to communicate among themselves. The ARRL Letter reports that the UW team has developed devices that "form a network out of thin air," relying for power on what the group terms "ambient backscatter," allowing them to "repurpose wireless signals that are already around us into both a source of power and a communication medium." The group is looking to develop the technology for use in "wearable computing, smart homes and self-sustaining sensor networks." More information, including a video, may be found at <http://abc.cs.washington.edu/>.