We are pleased to announce that our joint work with Technische Universität Darmstadt´s Integrated Electronic Systems Lab has been accepted for presentation at the 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗨𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗖𝗘𝗘𝗨𝗦). In this research, we integrated our ultrasonic through-metal backscatter communication system into a standard M20 bolt, enabling the wireless readout of sensor data from within the metal structure. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲, 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁. Our approach opens up new possibilities for retrofitting existing machinery with smart, ultra-low-power sensors embedded directly into standardized components. Such sensor-integrating machine elements could enable continuous condition monitoring with minimal installation effort and without the need for radio-frequency based wireless communication, which is often severely limited in metallic environments.
Photo (1) Backscatter-Reader (2) Piezo-Transducer (3) Backscatter-Tag (4) Screw with integrated Piezo-Transducer
