Oppo Zero-Power Tag: A Battery-Free Tracker
Oppo has recently unveiled its Zero-Power Tag, a battery-free tracker at the MWC 2023 expo. The device is powered by a technology called Zero-Power Communication, which leverages RF signal harvesting, backscattering, and low-power computing to harvest radio waves from the surrounding area to power its own functionality and communicate without the need for a battery. This technology can be applied to a variety of use cases, such as tracking endangered birds or other IoT devices.
How Does Zero-Power Communication Work?
Zero-Power Communication networks can harvest energy from existing radio signals broadcast from sources such as TV towers, FM radio towers, cellular base stations, and WiFi access points (APs). This energy is then used to modulate ambient radio signals with the device’s own information and transmit these signals outwards in a process known as backscattering communication. In the near future, IoT devices will be able to harvest energy directly from Bluetooth, WiFi, and cellphone signals, resulting in smaller size, better durability, and lower cost.
Benefits of the Zero-Power Tag
The Zero-Power Tag is a prototype plastic rectangle with the chip inside, but Oppo has stated that it may come in the form of a sticker that can be applied anywhere. This device has the potential to reduce the amount of batteries going to landfills, as it does not require a battery to power itself. It also has a variety of applications, such as tracking endangered birds or other IoT devices.
