This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase I project investigates the feasibility of using through-air ultrasound data communications for wireless sensors. Traditional RF-based wireless communications for small-form-factor devices like sensors or mobiles use carrier frequencies of hundreds of MHz to several GHz. The associated electronic receivers and transmitters must be designed to handle these high speeds. This results in substantial power dissipation so that regular battery replacements are required, which are both difficult and costly. Ultrasonic communications use low frequency carriers, from a few tens of kilohertz to a few MHz, which enables an order-of-magnitude reduction in the power consumption of the communication electronics. In preceding academic research, a custom-designed ultrasonic receiver integrated circuit (IC) was field tested. The IC achieves a ten-fold reduction in power consumption over the state-of-the-art RF-based receivers. To prepare this technology for the commercial arena more technical work will be conducted in understanding the effect of reverberations on system performance in real sensor environments, in increasing the communication-distance range from the present value of 10m, and in designing ultrasonic transducers customized for data communications. The anticipated end-result is a low-cost, ultralow- power ultrasonic-communication module that consumes significantly lower power than any commercially available wireless communication system.
The broader impact/commercial potential of this project derives from the fact that low cost and ultra-low power wireless sensors enabled by using ultrasound have a vast array of applications in industrial, structural and environmental monitoring. Several of the potential applications have a significant societal impact; examples include border surveillance, air-pollution monitoring, forest-fire detection, greenhouse monitoring, machine-health monitoring, and wastewater monitoring. Further, the use of interference-free ultrasound will expand the applications of wireless sensor networks in RF regulated environments like hospitals. This will be a leap forward in the safety and environmental sustainability of wireless sensor networks.
This Phase-I SBIR demonstrated the feasibility of using ultra-low-power wireless-ultrasonic communications for the applications of home automation and security systems. These systems are expected to play an important role in our society towards forming intelligent environments. Order-of-magnitude power reductions in these systems possible by using ultrasound, instead of the conventionally-used radio frequencies, directly translate into longer battery life times and lower operating costs. RF based wireless communications use carrier frequencies of hundreds of MHz to several GHz. The associated electronic receivers and transmitters must be designed to handle these high speeds which come at the price of substantial power dissipation, and therefore regular battery replacements are often needed. Ultrasonic carriers can have low carrier frequencies (from a few tens of kilohertz to a few MHz), which enables an order of magnitude reduction in the communication power. Building on the preceding academic research, we have developed and extensively field-tested 'proof-of-concept' ultrasonic transmitter and receiver modules. These prototypes have helped us explain and demonstrate our technology to potential customers and collaborators, and have been instrumental in the formation of several of our strategic partnerships. Accomplishments: Team Wins $100K First Prize in the Interdigital Innovation Challenge. The "Ultrasonic Wireless Sensors" team, consisting of the PI Kshitij Yadav, and Prof. John Kymissis and Prof. Peter Kinget, won the $100K First Prize in the Interdigital Innovation Challenge. The winners were announced on September 21st 2012 at the GigaOM's Mobilize conference, San Francisco. The competition drew entries from top universities all across North America. "Ultrasound communication" Team Gets Recognition as One of its University’s Promising Start-ups. The team won Columbia University’s 2011 All-star Competition, organized by the Alumni Office. The team was awarded mentorship, in-kind legal training and access to the vast network of Columbia Alumni that includes investors, entrepreneurs and businessmen. Our team has been invited to be showcased among Columbia’s promising startups in events like ‘Technology You Can Touch’ (Nov’ 12) and ‘Engineering Entrepreneurship Night’ (Dec’12).
