Researchers from the University of Washington's Sensing Laboratory have developed an innovative wireless identification and sensing platform called WISP. This groundbreaking technology combines a sensor with a computing chip, allowing it to function without a battery or a power cord. Instead, WISP harnesses radio waves emitted by RFID readers—commonly used in retail stores for anti-theft purposes—and converts them into electrical energy.
The coin-sized WISP is designed to operate similarly to Fitbit processors, featuring embedded accelerometers and temperature sensors. According to Aaron Parks, a researcher at the lab, WISP can collect sensory data and perform basic information processing. It communicates using backscattering wireless signals, a method akin to sending Morse code via light. Surprisingly, this approach is quite fast, with a bandwidth comparable to Bluetooth Low Energy, which powers many modern Bluetooth devices.
Thanks to collaboration with researchers at Delft University, WISP now supports wireless code rewriting. This means that, for instance, a fitness tracker based on WISP could receive new features or bug fixes without needing to be connected to any device. Parks emphasized that this capability is unprecedented and opens up exciting possibilities.
While WISP is not the only battery-free computer chip, other similar technologies are generally slow and limited in range. However, by integrating with RFID readers, the team has managed to increase performance tenfold. Though fully charging smartphones or laptops with radio waves remains far off, WISP has practical applications in architecture, where sensors can detect structural damage after earthquakes.
Parks also mentioned potential uses in medical implants for patient monitoring and in agriculture, where thousands of plants can be monitored simultaneously. Consumer electronics like fitness trackers could benefit as well. In fact, he even suggested that a battery-free computer could be embedded in a smartphone to send emergency messages when the device runs out of power.
Ultimately, the true potential of WISP and similar technologies lies in the Internet of Things, where they can help make everyday devices smarter and more efficient.
24V Charger,24V Ebike Charger,Electric Charger For Motor,24V Battery Charger
HuiZhou Superpower Technology Co.,Ltd. , http://www.spchargers.com