Sensors play a key role in the Internet of Things, but they have one clear limitation: they need a battery or some other power source to operate. However, in the near future, they may be able to obtain energy from the air. Wiliot showed off a touch-sensitive sticker that collects energy from surrounding radio frequency waves, whether it's Bluetooth, cellular or WiFi. All an ARM-based chip needs is a base antenna printed on paper or plastic. After that, it can transmit information, such as temperature, without any battery.
A new battery-free approach could lead to product stickers for touch tags, where they weren't always possible before. For example, clothes can warn you about ruining a white shirt while washing with other items, and packaging can track the entire path of goods - from the manufacturer to your door. Since the technology involves the use of a minimum amount of equipment, the use of tags should not significantly increase the cost of goods.
These tags will not appear until 2020. Wiliot has already received financial assistance from investment units Amazon and Samsung. Tech giants want the technology to be successfully deployed, and so it is likely to find widespread use soon.
Sergey Lukavsky