Wireless Devices Go Battery-Free With New Communication Technique

melios sends this quote from an University of Washington news release: "[E]ngineers have created a new wireless communication system that allows devices to interact with each other without relying on batteries or wires for power. The new communication technique, which the researchers call 'ambient backscatter,' takes advantage of the TV and cellular transmissions that already surround us around the clock. Two devices communicate with each other by reflecting the existing signals to exchange information. The researchers built small, battery-free devices with antennas that can detect, harness and reflect a TV signal, which then is picked up by other similar devices."

Comments

Re:it is new... in a way.

[ls671]

Peer to peer analogy? If not enough people seed with devices hooked up to power sources, the system will fail.

Also, I remember that they caught a guy hijacking power from high power lines without touching the wires. He was doing it simply by induction and the power line was close to his barn. The electricity company noticed a power leak and this let to an investigation resulting in him being convicted even if he never touched the wires.

Now, how will the tv and radio stations react when they notice their signal get weaker because a bunch of devices draw power from their signal?