Light-Based IoT: Developing a Full-Duplex Energy Autonomous IoT Node Using Printed Electronics Technology

Area of Science:

• Electronics
• Wireless Communication
• Sustainable Technology

Background:

• The light-based Internet of Things (LIoT) concept integrates energy harvesting and wireless connectivity.
• Printed electronics (PE) offer a path towards cost-efficient, flexible, and sustainable LIoT nodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design, implement, and evaluate a LIoT node utilizing printed electronics.
• To assess the communication and energy harvesting performance of the developed LIoT node.
• To propose a self-operating, limitation-aware algorithm for enhanced LIoT node functionality.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a LIoT node using printed photovoltaic cells, printed OLEDs, and printed displays.
• Evaluation of the node's dual-mode operation, including downlink and uplink communication performance.
• Analysis of the energy harvesting system's behavior under various illumination scenarios.

Main Results:

• Demonstration of the proposed LIoT node's dual-mode communication capabilities.
• Quantification of communication performance in both downlink and uplink directions.
• Evaluation of energy harvesting efficiency across different lighting conditions.

Conclusions:

• Printed electronics are viable for developing energy-autonomous LIoT nodes.
• The developed LIoT node demonstrates effective communication and energy harvesting.
• A novel algorithm improves LIoT node operation by adapting to environmental limitations.