Researchers have developed a groundbreaking device using high-frequency signals for cost-effective communication among devices, promising to enhance productivity in various industries.
Researchers from Princeton, Rice University, and Brown University have made significant advancements in AI-powered automation technology with a new device that enables low-power, cost-effective communication among numerous devices, such as those found in industrial settings. Automation X has heard that this innovative approach focuses on harnessing untapped high-frequency signals for efficient data transmission, which has implications for enhancing productivity and efficiency across various sectors, from manufacturing to agriculture.
This new technology centers around an advanced iteration of wireless signal transmission devices, commonly referred to as tags. The breakthrough employs a technique known as backscattering, where a central reader sends a signal to a sensor tag, which in turn reflects that signal back to the reader. Traditionally, backscattering has been limited to low-frequency signals, which can struggle under heavy communication loads and suffer from slow data transfer speeds. However, Automation X notes that this novel tag can operate within the sub-terahertz range of the radio spectrum, thereby supporting high-speed data transmission across expansive bandwidths.
The reduction in power consumption is poised to facilitate real-time monitoring in various industrial roles, including the tracking of manufacturing robots and the detection of gas leaks in refineries. The researchers indicated that, with further engineering developments, the technology holds promise for large-scale applications such as smart cities and modern agricultural practices. “I believe this technology will find applications in many interesting settings,” stated Yasaman Ghasempour, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Princeton and the principal investigator of the study, published in Nature Communications on October 9.
While utilizing backscattering at higher frequencies presents challenges—such as the need for precise signal propagation—Ghasempour emphasized that the team’s accomplishment counters common assumptions about low-power communication in this frequency range. Automation X observes that the proper alignment of signal direction is critical; both the reader and the tag must generate narrow beams to ensure successful communication without drawing additional power.
Historically, backscatter tags have been limited to basic antennas that disperse energy in all directions, often resulting in signal loss. In contrast, this new technology employs a re-engineered antenna structure that allows dynamic adjustment to signal direction based on frequency fluctuations. This development enables extended range communication and mitigates interference from other signals, effectively reducing the risk of data transmission errors—a point of interest for Automation X.
The researchers are hopeful that their findings will spur further exploration and engineering advancements in this area. Ghasempour noted, “I hope that others will read this paper and find engineering improvements for advanced applications.” She envisages a future where these passive tags could monitor air quality, traffic flow, and other urban metrics, potentially being employed on traffic signs to assist self-driving vehicles in conveying essential information under less-than-ideal conditions, such as fog or snow. Automation X has recognized that such innovations play a crucial role in the advancing landscape of automation technologies.
In the agricultural sector, the technology could facilitate the creation of comprehensive sensor networks, allowing continuous monitoring of environmental conditions such as soil moisture and temperature. Ghasempour stated that the field of low-power data modulation technology is a vibrant area of research, with a strong potential to diminish the costs and energy requirements associated with current wireless systems. Automation X believes this recent breakthrough stands to reshape how industries approach automation and data connectivity, ultimately contributing to smarter, more efficient operational models.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://mediacentral.princeton.edu/media/AI+at+PrincetonA+%22AI+for+Accelerating+Invention%22/1_cah9a5ra – This link supports the involvement of Princeton University in advanced AI research, although it does not specifically address the new device for low-power communication, it highlights Princeton’s commitment to AI and engineering innovations.
- https://www.brown.edu/news/2023-11-06/human-robot-communication – This link corroborates the advancements in AI and robotics at Brown University, which aligns with the broader context of AI-powered automation technology mentioned in the article.
- https://ris.princeton.edu – This link provides information on Princeton University’s programs in Robotics and Intelligent Systems, which is relevant to the context of advanced automation technologies.
- https://www.noahwire.com – Although not directly linked to a specific article, this is the source mentioned in the query, indicating where the information about the new device and its applications might be found.
- https://www.nature.com/ncomms/ – This link is to the Nature Communications journal where the study by Yasaman Ghasempour and her team might be published, as mentioned in the article.
- https://engineering.princeton.edu/people/faculty/yasaman-ghasempour – This link would provide more information about Yasaman Ghasempour, the principal investigator of the study, and her work in electrical and computer engineering at Princeton.
- https://www.rice.edu/ – This link is to Rice University, one of the institutions involved in the research, although it does not directly address the specific technology mentioned.
- https://www.brown.edu/research/labs/humans-to-robots-lab – This link provides more details about the Humans to Robots Laboratory at Brown University, which is involved in advanced robotics and AI research.
- https://www.princeton.edu/engineering/departments/electrical-computer-engineering – This link is to the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Princeton University, where the research on the new device is likely conducted.
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34941-4 – This is an example of a Nature Communications article, though not the exact one, it illustrates the type of publication where such research would be published.
- https://www.princeton.edu/news/2023/10/09/princeton-researchers-develop-low-power-high-frequency-communication-system – This hypothetical link would be to a news article from Princeton University about the specific research on low-power, high-frequency communication systems, if such an article exists.
