IoT – Internet of Things

There are a number of new technologies coming up dealing with single chip devices that are used in multiple number and connected to provide the data required. The sensors on these single chip devices are often spread over a large range of area and this combined with the sheer number of devices makes it an uphill task to supervise each device physically for researchers.

At present the batteries in IoT devices are the most expensive part of the operation. They are three times the cost of the chip that they are powering. They need to be frequently changed when they get completely discharged, and this leads to a huge waste in human man hours as well as loss of data in the chip.

Researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) have come up with an innovative microchip, that can continue to operate even when the battery runs out of energy. The chip named BATLESS, is able to work on a smaller solar cell powered section, keeping the data alive and well, till the main battery can be replaced.

The science project is now working on a way to make BATLESS work completely on solar power so that the need to switch out a worn battery in IoT devices is completely eliminated. This will of course, improve the functioning of IoT devices greatly.