Extending the Lifetime of Remotely Deployed Sensors Using RF Energy Harvesting

Project Member(s): Shariati Moghadam, N., Abolhasan, M.

Funding or Partner Organisation: Food Agility CRC Limited (Food Agility CRC)
Food Agility CRC Limited (Food Agility CRC)

Start year: 2019

Summary: Smart farms are facilitated with soil moisture sensors that are placed in the plants' root zone and many other loT based sensors deployed at different places of the farm that are not easily accessible. The sensors are usually powered by batteries that require replacement after a certain period. Powering up the sensors using solar power is a feasible solution. However, solar power is extremely dependent on weather condition. This research is proposed to provide a solution to power up the loT sensors in smart farms regardless of climate condition by introducing multiband antenna with enhanced radiation efficiency for RF energy harvesting system. The successful outcome of this project will significantly contribute to increase the productivity by feeding power to the sensors at all times using the ambient radio frequency bands. Moreover, the efficiency of RF energy harvesting devices can be substantially expanded by enabling different multiband antenna with directional and omnidirectional radiation to capture RF power from ambient (RF energy scavenging) or dedicated RF sources (Wireless Power Transfer, WPT). Powering up the sensors by multiband antenna-based RF energy harvesting device will be a cost-effective approach to facilitate longer lifetime of the sensors since they will not require frequent maintenance due to battery replacement issue. Moreover, this solution will keep the sensors active to provide data about soil condition, plant growth etc. to the farmers continuously.

FOR Codes: Communications Technologies, Renewable Power and Energy Systems Engineering (excl. Solar Cells), Energy Generation, Conversion and Storage Engineering, Agricultural and Environmental Standards, Control of Plant Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments, Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Environments, Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland Land Management, Communications engineering, Electrical energy generation (incl. renewables, excl. photovoltaics), Energy generation, conversion and storage (excl. chemical and electrical), Measurement standards and calibration services, Terrestrial systems and management

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.