Batteries are a very important part of any electronic device/gadget we use these days. From our smartphones and tablets to home devices like Robot Vacuums, Air Purifiers, everything works on battery power these days. However, now a tech giant is dreaming of a future wherein batteries won’t be needed to run these devices. Yes, you heard it right, Oppo is teasing about a future wherein IoT devices at home will run without a battery.
Oppo has published a new whitepaper that claims a battery-free “zero-power communication” system for small, low-powered smart home devices.
The idea is based on the concept of ambient radio frequency wave-powered electronics that will not need to rely on in-built power sources to function. “In the near future, IoT devices will be able to harvest energy directly from Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and cellphone signals, resulting in excellent features such as smaller size, better durability, and lower cost,” Oppo explains.
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Drawing Power Over the Air
This concept of devices drawing power over the air is not new. Samsung recently launched a smart TV remote that harvests energy through 2.4GHz Wi-Fi. Similarly, Motorola and Xiaomi have also showcased ambient device charging solutions in the past.
If what Oppo is saying about zero-power tech comes out to be true, then wearables will be able to charge passively too. This will solve the problem of charging modern smartwatches.
Oppo is seeing other benefits to using radio frequencies for power. Using this zero-power communication system, devices will be able to embed information in that signal and relay it outwards.
Oppo thinks it would make devices behave as low-power communication carriers in heavy industry, transportation, or smart homes. The company has also outlined other potential use cases for zero-power technology, including location tags which will never require battery replacements and will provide improved long-distance tracking for species like migratory birds.
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Reportedly, the tech giant has already started testing this technology’s viability and will slowly start pushing this zero-power communication protocol for future use.
But, for now, and for the near future, physical batteries will continue to remain the backbone of the tech world. However, seeing Oppo’s vision, some other big companies have started taking this idea of a battery-free world a little more seriously.
