Israel-based semiconductor company Wiliot has developed the world’s first battery-free Bluetooth sensor tag that is powered by ambient radio frequencies.
“We envision a world of smarter “Things” that can sell themselves and offer functionality not possible before,” said Wiliot. “Apparel and pharmaceutical packaging become connected to the cloud. The Internet of Things can scale and offer real value as we understand where products are, who is using them and when they need to be replenished. Manufacturing, supply chain and inventory can be optimized. Makers of products and retailers can flourish in the face of disruption from online shopping.”
“Anything we wear, touch or use can include sensing and connectivity, thanks to battery-free devices with an infinite lifetime.”
About the size of a sticker, the Bluetooth sensor tags are incorporated with an ARM processor. Able to measure weight and temperature data, encrypted information can also be transmitted. By eliminating the majority of the components associated with traditional Bluetooths, the market price and maintenance costs are significantly reduced.
“We believe that disposable electronics based on battery-free, low-cost systems are the foundation for future IoT systems. We are on the edge of dramatically changing the way products are made, how they are distributed, where and when they are sold, and how they are used and recycled,” said Tal Tamir, Wiliot CEO and co-founder. “Re-cycling the radiation around us to power sticker-size sensors can enable new ways for consumers to interact with products that were previously not feasible. Products can share when they are picked up, their temperature, or when they need to be replenished. Without batteries or other high-cost components, tags have unlimited power and lifespan, so can be embedded inside of products that were previously unconnected to the Internet of Things.”
Wiliot states that the Bluetooth sensor tag can be utilized for applications such as tracking the manufacturing process of goods in real-time, interactive product tags that consumers can engage with using their smartphones, clothing with Wiliot tags that communicate with washing machines, and more,
“Wiliot’s strategy for battery-free Bluetooth transponders, which sense and communicate without needing specific action by consumers, is very relevant to Avery Dennison’s intelligent label strategy,” explained Francisco Melo, VP & GM, Global RFID, Avery Dennison. “We believe in a future where every item will have a unique digital identity and a digital life, benefiting both consumers and brands, with relevant and contextual information. We see this as an extension to our world-leading RFID solutions, enabling consumers to connect with products through multiple smartphone and IoT devices from end to end.”
