Monday, August 7, 2023

A Sustainable Future with Eco-Friendly Wirelessly Powered IoT Sensors

About Topic In Short:

Who:

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) | KAUST-led international team including Kalaivanan Loganathan and Thomas Anthopoulos.

What:

Wirelessly powered electronics using alternative semiconductor materials for a more sustainable Internet of Things (IoT).

How:

The IoT's growth demands energy-efficient and environmentally friendly power sources. The team explored large-area electronics with energy harvesters like photovoltaic cells and RF energy harvesters, eliminating battery reliance.

Introduction

The realm of the Internet of Things (IoT) is evolving rapidly, promising a profound impact on daily life and diverse industries. However, the surge in IoT devices and their reliance on battery technology pose environmental challenges related to waste and depletion of resources. In response, a pioneering international team of researchers led by KAUST explores an innovative solution to develop eco-friendly, wirelessly powered IoT sensors, with a vision for a more sustainable future.

The Expanding Influence of IoT

The Internet of Things constitutes an interconnected network of smart objects serving various purposes, from home security systems to self-driving cars and industrial machinery. As the IoT continues to grow, projections indicate that it will encompass trillions of devices in the coming decade, demanding energy-efficient and sustainable power solutions to drive these devices.

Challenges with Traditional Battery-Powered Sensors

The current approach to powering IoT devices heavily relies on battery technology, presenting several concerns. The regular replacement of batteries incurs significant costs and contributes to environmental harm through electronic waste generation. Additionally, the soaring demand for battery materials like lithium may outpace global production capacities, further exacerbating resource scarcity.

Wireless IoT Sensors: A Greener Paradigm

The KAUST research team introduces an alternative approach to tackle these challenges: wirelessly powered IoT sensors. Leveraging energy harvesters like photovoltaic cells and radio-frequency (RF) energy harvesters, these sensors draw energy from the environment, eliminating the need for batteries and reducing electronic waste. Large-area electronics play a pivotal role in enabling this technology, offering eco-friendly solutions printable on flexible, biodegradable substrates like paper.

Pioneering Endeavors at KAUST Solar Center

KAUST alumnus Kalaivanan Loganathan conducted groundbreaking research in Thomas Anthopoulos' lab at the KAUST Solar Center. Loganathan's study focused on large-area nanogap patterning using adhesion lithography, showcasing the potential of nanogap devices across various applications. Presently, Loganathan serves as an R&D Project Engineer at High NA Lab in Belgium, contributing to the advancement of environmentally friendly technologies.

Evaluating Large-Area Electronic Technologies

KAUST alumni Kalaivanan Loganathan, alongside Professor Thomas Anthopoulos and researchers from the KAUST Solar Center, assessed the feasibility of diverse large-area electronic technologies to develop eco-friendly, wirelessly powered IoT sensors. Notably, significant strides in solution-based processing facilitated easier printing of devices and circuits on flexible, large-area substrates, offering a more sustainable alternative to conventional silicon-based technologies.

The Role of RF Electronic Components

The KAUST team's research has led to the creation of RF electronic components, encompassing metal-oxide and organic polymer-based semiconductor devices known as Schottky diodes. These components play a pivotal role in wireless energy harvesters, significantly influencing the performance and cost of the sensor nodes.

Envisioning a Sustainable Tomorrow

The team's endeavors encompass scalable methodologies to manufacture RF diodes capable of harvesting energy within the 5G/6G frequency range, providing essential building blocks to power billions of sensor nodes sustainably. At present, the team explores the seamless integration of these low-power devices with antennas and sensors, presenting their true potential.

Thus Speak Authors/Experts

According to the visionary researchers involved in this groundbreaking study, wirelessly powered large-area electronics pave the way for a sustainable Internet of Things. This proposed technology not only curtails electronic waste and reduces the environmental impact of battery production but also offers scalable and cost-effective solutions to power the ever-expanding world of interconnected IoT devices.

Conclusion

Embracing eco-friendly, wirelessly powered sensors holds the key to the future of IoT, extracting energy from the environment and reducing reliance on conventional batteries, thus mitigating electronic waste. The KAUST-led international research team's trailblazing efforts forge a path towards a sustainable and eco-conscious Internet of Things, contributing to a brighter and greener future.

Image Gallery

Wirelessly powered electronics developed by KAUST researchers could help to make internet of things technology more environmentally friendly. Graphic: 2022 KAUST / Heno Hwang

While in Thomas Anthopoulos' lab in the KAUST Solar Center, KAUST alumnus Kalaivanan Loganathan studied large-area nanogap patterning based on adhesion lithography and the use of nanogap devices for various applications. Loganathan now works as an R&D Project Engineer at High NA Lab in Belgium. Photo: KAUST

All Images Credit: from References/Resources sites [Internet]

Hashtag/Keyword/Labels List:

#GreenerIoT #WirelesslyPoweredElectronics #EcofriendlySensors #KAUSTResearch #SustainableFuture #EnergyHarvesters

References/Resources List

1. https://www.discountmags.com/magazine/electronics-for-you-february-2023-digital-m/in-this-issue/hiRRo1jyO1675419030104

2. https://www.sustainabilitymenews.com/technology/a-greener-internet-of-things-with-no-wires-attached

3. https://www.industrytap.com/researchers-discover-new-approach-to-eco-friendly-iot/65205

4. https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/iot-could-go-green-with-large-area-electronic-technologies

5. https://www.kaust.edu.sa/en/news/a-greener-internet-of-things-with-no-wires-attached

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…till next post, bye-bye and take-care.

Sunday, August 6, 2023

Discovering the Potential of Wireless Earbuds as Affordable Hearing Aids

About Topic In Short:
	Who: Institute Name and Authors: Cell Press, - Heng-Yu Haley Lin, - Hoi-Shan Lai, - Chii-Yuan Huang, - Chih-Hao Chen, - Shang-Liang Wu, - Yuan-Chia Chu, - Yu-Fu Chen, - Ying-Hui Lai, - Yen-Fu Cheng.
	What: Some commercial earbuds, specifically Apple's AirPods Pro, can perform comparably to traditional hearing aids in certain scenarios, offering a potential cost-effective solution for individuals with hearing loss.
	How: The researchers compared AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro with premium and basic hearing aids. They tested these devices on 21 participants with mild to moderate hearing loss. The participants were asked to repeat a sentence while wearing the devices, and the results were analyzed.

Introduction:

An extraordinary study, published on November 15, 2022, in the esteemed journal iScience, conducted by researchers from Cell Press, has unveiled the remarkable capability of certain commercial earbuds to match the performance of traditional hearing aids. This groundbreaking revelation holds promise in addressing a significant hurdle faced by individuals with hearing loss, offering the potential for more affordable and easily accessible sound amplification devices. The research delves into the viability of employing widely available wireless earphones, notably Apple's AirPods, as a cost-effective alternative to conventional hearing aids.

Background and Predicament:

The implications of hearing loss on an individual's overall health and well-being are vast and profound. Nevertheless, the expense associated with traditional hearing aids, coupled with the need for multiple visits to medical professionals for fine-tuning, creates substantial barriers for those seeking assistance. Astonishingly, nearly 75% of individuals with hearing loss in the United States forgo the use of hearing aids, largely due to the high cost and the social stigma surrounding them.

Approach and Objective of the Researchers:

In response to the challenges faced by individuals with hearing loss, Yen-fu Cheng, an otolaryngologist at Taipei Veterans General Hospital, along with his dedicated team, embarked on an exploration of alternative and more accessible solutions. Their focus honed in on Apple's "Live Listen" feature, introduced in 2016, which empowers users to amplify sounds through their wireless earphones and iPhones. The researchers sought to ascertain whether AirPods, equipped with the "Live Listen" feature, could effectively supplant traditional hearing aids.

Methodology and Key Findings of the Research:

The research team conducted a comparative analysis between two AirPods models, AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro (the latter boasting noise-canceling capabilities), and both premium and basic hearing aids. Premium hearing aids were priced at $10,000, while basic ones cost $1,500. Remarkably, the AirPods models proved significantly more cost-effective, with AirPods 2 priced at $129 and AirPods Pro at $249. Notably, AirPods Pro adhered to four out of five technology standards for hearing aids, indicating their potential candidacy for sound amplification.

The researchers enlisted 21 participants with mild to moderate hearing loss and asked them to repeat a brief sentence while wearing the devices, subsequently analyzing the results. In quiet settings, AirPods Pro exhibited similar efficacy to basic hearing aids, slightly trailing premium hearing aids. Despite ranking the lowest among the four devices, AirPods 2 still exhibited an improvement in hearing compared to no hearing aids.

However, in noisy environments, AirPods Pro displayed comparable performance to premium hearing aids when the noise emanated from the side of the participant. Regrettably, both AirPods models struggled to enhance hearing when noise originated from the front.

Potential Reasons and Future Implications:

The disparity in performance between the two scenarios could potentially be attributed to soundwave trajectories and the advanced signal processing algorithms inherent in premium hearing aids. This revelation paves the way for future advancements in hearing aid and personal sound amplification product design, emphasizing heightened sensitivity to specific directions.

The researchers' findings carry substantial implications for the rapidly growing wireless earphone market worldwide. This research may inspire companies to explore the concept of crafting earbuds with sound amplification capabilities to cater to the needs of individuals with hearing loss.

Expert Insights:

Ying-Hui Lai, a co-author of the study and a bioengineer at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taipei, fervently emphasized the profound impact of their findings on the development of more sensitive hearing aids and personal sound amplification products. The team's work underscores the viability of wireless earbuds as hearing aids, signifying a momentous stride in making sound amplification devices more accessible and cost-effective.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the study establishes that select commercial earbuds, particularly AirPods Pro, possess comparable potential to traditional hearing aids in specific scenarios. This discovery heralds the advent of more economical and widely accessible sound amplification options for individuals with hearing loss. While wireless earbuds do not serve as perfect substitutes for professional hearing aids, they undeniably offer a promising starting point to enhance the quality of life for countless individuals currently lacking access to such devices. The study stands as a collaborative effort supported by Veterans General Hospitals and the University System of Taiwan Joint Research Program, along with the Ministry of Science and Technology.