www.eetimes.com, Jul. 20, 2020 –
More than 60% of the costs associated with an industrial IoT (IIoT) set-up are estimated to be for cabling and installation. Wireless data transfer is an obvious means for eliminating some cabling, but even more could be avoided by also using wireless technology for power transfer.
TransferFi is a start-up that is working on new wireless charging solutions for industrial IoT sensor networks at a distance of 50 meters (roughly 165 feet).
The wireless technology is well known, but the design of transmitters, their location, the possibility of maximizing efficiency, and validating the behavior of the entire system represent complex challenges that require the use of complex engineering solutions. The inevitable cost of cabling adds to the barriers not only to the IIoT and Industry 4.0, but also smart grids and smart cities. Large scale sensor installations require a complex wiring infrastructure that is costly, takes a long time to install.