New Backscatter Sensors Operate Over Long Ranges with Very Little Power
The Holy Grail of connected sensors and devices is to be able to transmit data over long distances without consuming much power.
By using chirp spread spectrum modulation with their backscatter system, the team was able to transmit data up to 2.8 kilometers. The sensors themselves could run on mere microwatts, so they only require very small batteries and could potentially even run from harvested ambient energy. Even more promising is the cost — at bulk pricing the team believes individual sensors would cost just 10 to 20 cents per unit.
